British Prime Minister Tony Blair says Britain will remain a staunch ally of the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan after he steps down. Speaking in Washington, Mr. Blair Thursday strongly defended Britain's role in the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. He said he would make the same decision again to, "stand shoulder to shoulder" with the United States.
Mr. Blair and President Bush held a joint news conference after meeting at the White House, as the British leader makes his final U.S. visit before stepping down.
The two leaders held a videoconference with their commanders and ambassadors in Iraq. They also discussed Afghanistan and expressed concern about the violence in Gaza. Mr. Bush said they spent a lot of time talking about climate change and the ongoing violence in Darfur.
Global warming is expected to be a major topic at next month's Group of Eight leading industrial nations summit in Germany.
Mr. Blair steps down as British prime minister on June 27.
Mr. Blair had a private dinner with President Bush at the White House Wednesday, shortly after arriving in Washington. He then spent the night in the same bedroom used by Winston Churchill during his visits with President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II. - VOA News
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