SAINT PETERSBURG - British Prime Minister Tony Blair called for urgent action from G8 leaders to de-escalate the crisis in the Middle East.
His spokesman told reporters travelling with the British delegation to the G8 summit that any negotiations should not be a 'talking shop'.
'It is very serious, the implications are very serious and we need to assess it with urgency,' the spokesman said.
'This shouldn't be a talking shop. It should be setting an agenda which will help de-escalate the situation.'
'We are trying to see what is the process that would underpin (efforts) to de-escalate the situation.'
Blair will hold a bilateral meeting with US President George Bush tomorrow morning and will meet later with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.
A meeting with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is set for Monday morning.
Blair's spokesman said a formal discussion of the Middle East would take place tomorrow. G8 leaders will also discuss other international security issues such as Iraq, Iran, North Korea and global terrorism. newsdesk@afxnews.com fp/sw COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited