British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Friday officially endorsed Chancellor Gordon Brown as next Labor leader.

 

 

"I'm absolutely delighted to give my full support to Gordon as the next leader of the Labor Party and prime minister and to endorse him fully," he told reporters at a press conference in Downing Street 10 following talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

 

"I think he has got what it takes to lead the Labor Party and indeed the country with distinction. He's an extraordinary and rare talent and it is tremendous if it is put at the service of the nation as it now can be." said he.

 

The announcement, came one day after Blair declared he would step down as Labor Party leader on June 27, marked the first time he directly supported Brown's bid.

 

Blair's statement about his departure plans ended months of speculation about the timetable for his exit from power.

 

 

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott also announced that he would resign as the Labor Party's deputy leader and quit as deputy prime minister in the summer.

 

According to the Sky News, Brown will officially launch his campaign to become the next Labor leader.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2007)