Peter, Brian Eno and others have signed off on an open letter to Tony Blair regarding the Mideast crisis.
Blair heads to Washington, California on five-day U.S. visit
JENNIFER QUINN
Associated PressLONDON – British Prime Minister Tony Blair headed to Washington Friday to discuss strategies for ending the Mideast crisis, amid growing pressure at home for Britain to distance itself from its longtime ally and call for an immediate end to violence between Israel and Hezbollah.
Blair left London’s Heathrow Airport for talks with U.S. President George W. Bush that will focus on building momentum for a cease-fire, Blair’s spokesman said, as well as a plan for an international peacekeeping force.
But Blair is aware that many in Britain believe he should align himself with the United Nations and European Union and call for an immediate end to the fighting in Lebanon, using the White House meeting to press Bush to add his support to such a move.
An open letter published Friday in Britain’s The Independent newspaper and signed by former British Cabinet ministers and ambassadors urged Blair to help broker a swift cease-fire. It warned that any continuing support for Israel’s military action could become as unpopular with the public as the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
The letter was also signed by musicians Damon Albarn, Peter Gabriel and Brian Eno and writers Harold Pinter, Will Self and Gillian Slovo.
