Bush must make Middle East a priority - Blair

British Prime Minister Tony Blair this evening congratulated George Bush on his election victory and said he intended to maintain his strong relationship with the United States President in his second term.

Mr Blair, who spoke by phone to Mr Bush earlier today following his election win, made clear that he will press the US President to make peace in the Middle East a key priority of the next four years, alongside the war on terror.

He urged other European leaders to rebuild bridges with America after the damage to trans-Atlantic relations caused by the Iraq War.

Speaking in 10 Downing Street minutes after Mr Bush’s acceptance speech in Washington, Mr Blair said: “It is an important part of our own British national interest that the British Prime Minister protect and strengthen the bond between our two countries.

“I sought to do that first with President Clinton and then with President Bush and I look forward to continuing that strong relationship in President Bush’s second term.”

Peace in the Middle East was “the single most pressing political challenge in our world”, said Mr Blair, making clear that he regarded relieving the suffering of the Palestinians as a key factor in draining support for radical Islamist terror groups such as al Qaida.

“We must be relentless in our war against terrorism and in resolving the conditions and causes on which the terrorists prey,” he said.