Britain hopes Bush will listen more to world

Prime Minister Tony Blair intends neither to abandon his role as a bridge between Europe and the United States nor London's longstanding special position as Washington's most faithful ally.

In the runup to general elections here in May, however, Blair will doubtlessly avoid appearing too close to Bush, who is widely unpopular in Britain, especially among voters of the governing Labour Party.

"There is clear evidence that his relationship with Bush, his association with the war in Iraq is an electoral liability," according to John Peterson, professor of international politics at the University of Edinburgh.

Peterson said in an interview with AFP that "far more people care about that association (with Bush) than about the allegations about bickering with Gordon Brown," the finance minister who hardly hides his ambition to replace Blair.

Britain's decision to join the US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq has already cost Blair dearly in popularity, and even if Blair wants to move on to other subjects, Iraq keeps popping back up in debate.

Blair prefers to use his special relationship with the United States to contribute to reviving the moribund peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, a goal which unsurprisingly wins broad support.