Blair to urge West Asia states to rein in Iran

Dubai, Dec 20: British Prime Minister Tony Blair will todaycall for West Asia states to rein in what he calls the threat from Iranand to help advance peacemaking between Israelis and Palestinians.

Speaking in the United Arab Emirates, he will underline what hasbeen the theme of his West Asia tour: moderate leaders must beempowered against extremists.

''We must recognise the strategic threat the government of Iranposes, not its people, not possibly all of its ruling elements, butthose presently in charge of its policy,'' he will say, according toextracts of his speech released by his office.

Iran seeks ''to pin us back in Lebanon, in Iraq and in Palestine'', he will tell business leaders in Dubai.

''Our response should be to expose what they are doing, build thealliances to prevent it and pin them back across the whole of theregion.'' He says to do this ''we need the open and clear backing ofthe countries in this region that know better than me what is happeningand why''.

Blair's spokesman dismissed suggestions his comments on Iran weredesigned to pit the region's Sunni Muslims against Shi'ite Iran, sayingthe Prime Minister worked with all faiths.

The Prime Minister -- making a push for peace in the West Asiabefore he leaves office next year -- will say the struggle between''moderates and extremists'' will impact the security of the widerworld.

''It is not too late but it is urgent,'' he will say.

Blair visited Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, Israel and the Palestinian territories before arriving in the United Arab Emirates.

Aides say Blair made progress on the trip in exploring ways to end a deadlock between Palestinians and Israelis.

Iran, Syria

He will pursue talks with world leaders in early2007, particularly on a package of aid for Palestinian PresidentMahmoud Abbas.

Abbas has called for elections after failing to form a unityadministration with the Hamas-led government, which is being boycottedby the West.

He will list three priorities: to give Abbas's office the capacityto improve Palestinians' lives; to engineer an early meeting betweenAbbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and to relaunch thepolitical process for a two-state solution.

''We must support and empower moderate and modernising governments and people everywhere in this region,'' Blair will say.

''We must mobilise our alliance of moderation in this region andoutside it and defeat the extremists'' whose ideas are based on a''warped'' interpretation of Islam, he will add.

Yesterday, Blair told the Dubai-based Al Arabiya television thatSyria should help to restore stability in Lebanon, Iraq and PalestinianTerritories, but did not rule out peace in the region without itssupport.

''I agree that peace would be easier in the West Asia with Syria,but we cannot allow Syria to decide for the region,'' he said. ''Wewill engage with Syria only if they agree on conditions for thispartnership,'' he added but did not elaborate. His remarks were airedwith Arabic translation.

Reuters