UN deputy urges Blair to stay out of Mideast conflict

M&C/DPA

Britain was urged Wednesday to take a secondary role in peace efforts in the Middle East because its influence is tainted by its involvement in Iraq.

Mark Malloch Brown, deputy secretary general at the United Nations, said Britain should be ready to be 'a follower, not a leader' in the current crisis.

Malloch Brown, who is British, told the Financial Times that the United States should be ready to share the diplomatic lead with other countries like France, Egypt or Jordan.

He said Britain and the US were 'poorly placed' to broker a deal over Lebanon because of their role in bringing about war in Iraq.

'It's not helpful for it again to appear to be the team that led on Iraq. This cannot be perceived as a US-UK deal with Israel,' he said.

'We need (French President Jacques) Chirac and (US President George) Bush, or Chirac, Bush and (Egyptian President Hosny) Mubarak and (Jordanian King) Abdullah on a podium, not President Bush and Mr Blair,' the UN deputy added. Link