European heavyweights greet Blair
Leading members of the European Union, avoiding differences over the war in Iraq, congratulated British Prime Minister Tony Blair on his general election victory on Friday and promised to work with him during his presidency of the EU and the G8 later this year.
Expressing "warm congratulations" on behalf of France, President Jacques Chirac said in a message to Blair that "the closeness that has grown between us over the years" would enable the two leaders to confront the challenges they face.
Chirac did not mention the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, which he opposed and Blair supported and which some analysts said was responsible for the large drop in the parliamentary majority of Blair's Labour Party.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. With results declared in 618 of the 645 constituencies, Labour held 353 seats in the House of Commons, ensuring a majority of at least 66 over all other parties combined, but sharply down from 161 in the previous parliament, according to television projections.
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