Washington - A group of international mediators for the conflict in the Middle East will name a new special envoy Wednesday, the US State Department said, but refused to confirm reports that outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be appointed to the post. Blair's 10-year tenure ends Wednesday, and there have been news reports that the Middle East Quartet, which consists of the European Union, Russia, United Nations and United States, will give him the position.
US State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey declined to confirm that Blair will take the job, but said he has the credentials to help broker an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"The US certainly believes that Prime Minister Blair is a distinguished individual with a long record and history of support for bringing about a peaceful resolution in the Middle East," Casey said.
"And certainly he would be an individual that no matter what he applied his skills to would certainly be a welcome presence," Casey added.
Representatives from the Quartet met in Jerusalem on Tuesday to discuss ways to revive peace talks now that Hamas has been ousted from the Palestinian government after seizing control of the Gaza Strip earlier this month.
The Quartet was also expected to discuss the possible appointment of Blair to the job that includes helping the Palestinians build an effective government and economic infrastructure. The special envoy position has been vacant since James Wolfensohn, the former president of the World Bank, left the post in 2006.
