Diplomats call for Blair to step down

Tony Blair continues to face considerable criticism at home from a public weary of his pontificating. His latest essay, which suggested the current crisis in Iraq had nothing to do with the 2003 war in Iraq, prompted a group of former diplomats and politicians to sign a letter calling for him to step down as representative of the Quartet, a role in which they said his achievements had been negligible. Signatories included former ambassador to Iran Sir Richard Dalton, former Libya ambassador Oliver Miles, former Egyptian ambassador Christopher Long, and former London mayor Ken Livingstone.