Former UK Abassadors Call for Tony Blair to be Sacked as Middle East Envoy

Local Editor

A group of former British ambassadors have called for ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair to be removed from his role as the Middle East envoy after his recent attempt to "absolve himself" of responsibility for the crisis in Iraq.

In a letter addressed to the Quartet, consisting of the US, European Union [EU], United Nations [UN] and Russia, former British envoys and other political figures made the appeal that read:

"We, like many, are appalled by Iraq's descent into a sectarian conflict that threatens its very existence as a nation, as well as the security of its neighbours. We are also dismayed, however, at Tony Blair's recent attempts to absolve himself of any responsibility for the current crisis by isolating it from the legacy of the Iraq war."

"We believe that Mr. Blair, as a vociferous advocate of the invasion, must accept a degree of responsibility for its consequences," the letter added.

"The sectarian conflict responsible for much of the war's reprehensible human cost was caused in part by the occupying forces' division of the country's political system along sectarian lines," it said.

The letter further added that Tony's achievement as Middle East envoy are "negligible" and he is guilty of seeking to please the "Israelis."

"Seven years on there are still over 500 checkpoints and roadblocks in the [occupied] West Bank. The [seized] Gaza Strip, severely damaged by "Israel's" 2009 bombing, remains in a humanitarian crisis, with 80% of its population reliant on foreign aid for survival. "Israel" continues to build settlements that are illegal under international law. According to the Palestinian Authority's former Chief Negotiator, Nabil Shaath, Tony Blair has "achieved so very little because of his gross efforts to please the "Israelis,"" the signatories said.

The former UK envoys added that the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, in which British forces also participated, is to blame for the rise of terrorism in the Arab country.

The UK signatories were led by Sir Richard Dalton - a former ambassador to Iran under Blair, and included former British ambassadors Oliver Miles and Christopher Long as well as British MPs George Galloway and Caroline Lucas, former London mayor Ken Livingstone and former Liberal Democrat Peer Lady Tonge.

Sources: News Agencies, Edited by website team