Blair to be named Mideast Quartet envoy

WASHINGTON: Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be named on Wednesday as special envoy for the international diplomatic Quartet on the Middle East with a portfolio focused on Palestinian economic and political reform, a senior US official said.

Member of the Quartet, the United States, United Nations European Union and Russia, will give their public blessing and announce that Blair has agreed to take the job in simultaneous statements from their capitals and New York, the official told.

The official, who insisted on anonymity because the statements are still being drafted, spoke after being briefed on a meeting of Quartet representatives held earlier today in Jerusalem.

Three US officials said on Monday that discussions on naming Blair to the post had been completed and the issue was on the Quartet's Tuesday agenda.

Deputy State Department spokesman Tom Casey would not discuss the prospects of Blair being named the group's envoy but said the meeting in Jerusalem had included a discussion about such a post and what its duties might be.

"They have talked about the idea ... of having an envoy, having someone who would be available on behalf of the quartet to work on a variety of issues, including efforts to help support the development of Palestinian Authority institutions," Casey told reporters.