20/01/2005

Prime Minister expects Bush to be "more consensual"

Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that he believes George W. Bush will be "more consensual" in relation to world politics, as he moves into his second term as US President.

Speaking in an interview with 'The Guardian' newspaper, Mr Blair said that following several conversations with Mr Bush, he believed that there had been an evolution in US policy.

The Prime Minister said that the US had learned that there were other ways to defeat terrorism, other than the use of the military, explaining "in the end, we can take security and military measures against terrorism but… the best prospect of peaceful coexistence lies in the spread of democracy and human rights".

Mr Blair made his comments to the 'Guardian' as the results of a global poll revealed that there is growing concern that George Bush's new administration will have a dangerous international impact. The poll, which was commissioned by the BBC World Service and involved 21 countries across Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia and Europe, found that 58% of those who took part expected Mr Bush to have "a negative impact on peace and security". 'The Guardian' also reported that only 26% considered the US President to be a positive force.

George Bush's will be sworn in as US President for a second term in Washington D.C. later today.

(KMcA/SP)

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