U.S. seeks swift deal on Blair as Middle East envoy
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The Bush administration expects  Western powers to agree to name Tony Blair as their Middle East  envoy soon after he steps down as British prime minister on  Wednesday, diplomats said.
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Tony Blair is pushing for a broader mandate in the Middle East that would give him a more direct role in peacemaking, expanding the limited envoy job that world powers gave him last month, diplomats said on Tuesday.
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Western powers have agreed to name outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair as Middle East envoy, as a bid to revive peace prospects after Islamist Hamas's takeover of Gaza, an official in Washington said on Tuesday.
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Middle East power brokers should appoint a special envoy to lay the groundwork for a Palestinian state, Washington said, amid reports Thursday that British Prime Minister Tony Blair will take up the job after he retires this month.
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Prime Minister Tony Blair&#39;s office remained tight-lipped Monday over growing speculation that he will be named as an international envoy to the Middle East after he leaves office this week.
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Tony Blair said Tuesday he is ready to help bring about a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, amid claims he is to become an envoy to the region after stepping down as British prime minister.
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International Mideast negotiators on Tuesday searched for ways to revive peace talks after Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip, and U.S. officials said they were expected to name outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a senior envoy.
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The quartet of Middle East mediators is expected to back U.S. plans to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace moves and hear from new special envoy Tony Blair when it meets in Portugal on Thursday.
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Middle East would top the agenda of British Prime Minister Tony Blair&#39;s upcoming trip to the United States as Blair is trying to revive the peace process in the region, Downing Street said on Monday.
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The United States will keep leading Middle East peace efforts with Tony Blair playing a complementary role as envoy to the Quartet of mediators, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday.
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Middle East mediators held talks on  Tuesday that could clear the way for the appointment of Tony  Blair as their envoy to try to revive peace prospects after  Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip.
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Leaders of the Middle East Quartet were to meet former prime minister Tony Blair Thursday, with the focus on his role as their new special envoy against a backdrop of a renewed US push for peace.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Tony Blair said on Tuesday he saw "a sense of possibility" in the Middle East in his first visit to the region as an international envoy but cautioned against expecting any peace breakthrough soon.
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The Bush administration is laying the groundwork for an announcement of Tony Blair's appointment as a special Middle East envoy for Palestinian governance and economic issues after he steps down as Britain's prime minister, following two months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, according to U.S....
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Middle East mediators held talks on Tuesday that could clear the way for the appointment of Tony Blair as their envoy to try to revive peace prospects after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip.
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Middle East peace envoy Tony  Blair said he believes both Israelis and Palestinians want  peace and a deal can be brokered by the end of this year.
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Prime Minister Tony Blair, flying to Washington on Thursday for talks with President Bush, said the international community must make peace in the Middle East its highest priority.