US hails departing Blair as friend, ally

WASHINGTON, May 10 (Reuters) The White House hailed British Prime Minister Tony Blair today as an extraordinary leader but was cautious about predicting any changes to Britain's Iraq policy upon his departure in June.

President George W Bush and Blair developed a remarkably close relationship during Bush's six years in office, especially in the war on Islamic militancy that followed the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

Blair stood out among many European leaders with his support for the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, committing the largest number of troops among Washington's allies.

White House spokesman Tony Snow opened his morning briefing by telling reporters that ''Tony Blair has been an extraordinary leader of the United Kingdom.'' ''He and the president are strong friends and allies,'' Snow said. ''But also, the prime minister has demonstrated the ability to work with presidents of both parties and maintain a long tradition of an alliance that is of extraordinary strategic importance.'' Snow would not be drawn into talking about what changes might be made to Britain's Iraq policy if, as expected, Gordon Brown the finance minister takes over as prime minister when Blair leaves.

''You'll have to ask the Brits,'' Snow said.

Other White House officials said they did not expect any immediate change.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack called Blair ''a good friend to the American people, a staunch defender of freedom, a terrific leader for the United Kingdom at a time of consequence.'' ''We live in the kind of times where you can't afford to let up your effort for one day fighting terror, defending freedom and supporting friends and allies working against the spread of weapons of mass destruction,'' McCormack said.

He said the United States looked forward to working with the next British prime minister, adding that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently had dinner with Brown when he was in Washington for World Bank meetings.

REUTERS AK PM2059