Blair leaves Egypt after meeting Mahlab, Shoukry on Middle East peace

Former British prime minister Tony Blair left Cairo Wednesday, winding up a two-day visit to Egypt, during which he discussed with Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab and Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry ways to end the stalemate in the Middle East peace process.

Blair, who is also the former envoy of the international quartet committee, was keen on stopping in Egypt on his way to Israel to listen to an Egyptian assessment of the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and ideas to revive peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdel Aati.

Shoukry posted Blair on the outcome of contacts he had recently with his European counterparts to reactivate the peace process, Abdel Aati said.