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British Prime Minister Tony Blair will give evidence on Tuesday to a US bipartisan panel that is reviewing policy in Iraq, as Washington and London seek ways to stem violence in the country and draw down their troops.
Blair will speak to the Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by
Republican former Secretary of State James Baker, via video link from London, his office said today.
"They are gathering evidence and ideas and we want to ensure they are fully briefed on our ideas," a spokeswoman said. She declined to give details of what Blair would tell the panel.
Blair is expected to say he supports diplomatic approaches to Syria and Iran to engage them in helping to stop bloodshed in Iraq, an idea some on the panel have indicated they favour.
The prime minister sent his senior foreign policy adviser Nigel Sheinwald to Damascus last month to hold talks with President Bashar al-Assad. He was the highest level British official to visit Damascus in years.
Britain has said Syria has a choice -- to play a constructive role in the world community or to back terrorism.
Blair is expected also to stress to the panel his strong view that a Middle East peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinians is essential to bringing peace to Iraq.
US President George W. Bush is set to meet the panel on Monday following the defeat of Bush's Republicans in mid-term elections, largely because of anger over Iraq.
Baker's recommendations could include a phased withdrawal of US troops in Iraq and bringing Iran and Syria into discussions on Iraq's future, analysts say.
Bush says he is open to any new ideas on Iraq. On Saturday he said his new Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who will replace Donald Rumsfeld following his resignation, was an "agent of change" who would give a fresh outlook on Iraq strategy.
The White House has been fiercely critical of Tehran and Damascus, telling them not to interfere in Iraq, and has rejected dialogue with them.
The likelihood of a US policy shift on Iraq has increased since the Democrats, calling for a change of direction there, seized control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in the Nov. 7 elections.
Former CIA boss Gates has been a member of the Baker panel and has indicated he favours opening US contacts with Iran and Syria, as do many Democrats. Following his nomination, Gates will leave the panel.
British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said on Thursday she expected a "continued reassessment" of the way forward in Iraq but not a "major upheaval" in strategy.
- REUTERS
