Fed: Beazley a true patriot: Blair

AAP General News (Australia)
12-13-2006
Fed: Beazley a true patriot: Blair

CANBERRA, Dec 13 AAP - British Prime Minister Tony Blair has paid tribute to his long-time
friend and ousted Labor leader Kim Beazley.

Mr Beazley was dumped last week by the party he had served since 1980, replaced by
former Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd.

Just moments after Mr Beazley was removed by his 87 party colleagues he was told his
brother David had died after suffering a heart attack.

While studying at Oxford, Mr Beazley struck up a close friendship with Mr Blair and
the pair have stayed in contact ever since.

However, their friendship and political alliance has not always delivered shared policies.

Mr Blair is one of the strongest supporters of the war in Iraq while Mr Beazley had
promised an Australian Labor government would remove troops from the war-torn nation.

Today, Mr Blair described Mr Beazley as a true patriot who had served his country admirably.

But he refused to comment on the recent leadership battle.

"I feel very sorry for Kim at this time, particularly after the very sad death of his
brother," Mr Blair told ABC Radio.

"He is, I know, a real Australian patriot and someone who has given immense service
to Australia."

AAP pv/br/br

KEYWORD: LABOR BLAIR

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.