Tony Blair to publish memoirs

"I hope my memoirs will provide a serious and thoughtful, but also entertaining reflection on my time as a member of parliament and as prime minister," Mr Blair, who is now international envoy to the Middle East for the so-called Quartet, said in a statement.

Random House also published the diaries of Mr Blair's communications chief Alastair Campbell in July, which was criticised for leaving out details of Mr Blair's tumultuous relationship with his then-finance minister and successor in Downing Street, Gordon Brown.

Mr Blair and Mr Brown - who both entered Parliament in 1983 and were friends - were credited with jointly reforming their Labour Party and bringing it to the centre ground, helping it win three consecutive general elections from 1997.

Their friendship turned to feuding, however, when Mr Brown reportedly fell out with Mr Blair over the latter's failure to honour a well-publicised but never confirmed deal they made in 1994 where Mr Brown would support Mr Blair as Labour leader, and Mr Blair would step aside for Mr Brown part way into a Labour government.

Britain's domestic Press Association cited unnamed sources reporting that the book was unlikely to appear for around two years, as a delay would possibly allow Mr Blair to include more details about his relationship with Mr Brown, if the book were to be published after a general election.

"We are absolutely delighted to be publishing Tony Blair's memoirs," said Random House chief executive Gail Rebuck.

"He was an extraordinary prime minister, and this will be an extraordinary book.

"It is a great privilege for all of us to be working with him on this unique
project." © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation