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AROUND THE WORLD 1: British Prime Minister being Forced out of Office

The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has today announced he will step down as leader of his country within a year. His statement comes following a week of what can only be described as turbulence within the Labour Party when Junior Defense Minister Tom Watson resigned following his call for Mr. Blair to set a timetable for his departure from office. Mr. Watson was followed in his resignation by seven junior members of the government who resigned their positions as Parliamentary Private Secretaries.

Mr. Blair, speaking at a school in London, said this year’s Labour conference would be his last. He also stated that he would have preferred to do this in his own way but his hand has been forced.

Mr. Blair has come under increasing pressure from his party and the country to resign following his part in bringing the country into the Iraq war. As the numbers of British soldiers being killed has increased, public opinion has deteriorated more and more rapidly. Ill health has also haunted the Prime Minister since 2004 when he was treated for an irregular heartbeat.

The statement made by Mr. Blair today does not set down a precise date – he stated “I will do that at a future date and I will do that in the interests of the country.”



--Written by Olivia Overman

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