Blair's failed Middle East peace initiative cost Britain 500,000 pounds

London, Feb 10 (ANI): Former Prime Minister and special envoy to the Middle East, Tony Blair, failed attempt to secure peace in the region has cost British taxpayers 500,000 pounds.

The British Foreign Office has footed a 400,000 pounds bill towards office costs and expenses for Blair.

Four civil servants and a political analyst have also been sent to work with Blair, costing at least 100,000 pounds, The Mirror reported.

The hefty bill emerged as discontent grows over his job representing the UN, America, the EU and Russia in the war-torn area.

Blair has had little impact in stopping the violence in Gaza, which has left 1,300 people dead. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has also now taken the lead in finding a diplomatic solution to the turmoil and will be hosting a summit on the crisis next month.

Senior Whitehall sources said they do not expect Blair to stay in the job given by President George W Bush in June 2007 after he stepped down as Prime Minister.

The overall cost of Blair's Middle East role is about 700,000 pounds a year, although he only visits the region for a week each month. (ANI)