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U.S. Resists Pressure to Expand Blair's Mideast Mandate
[AFP/Yahoo] Sylvie Lanteaume - The U.S. is resisting pressure from Europe to expand the mandate of new Middle East quartet envoy Tony Blair as it tries to preserve its control over the Israel-Palestinian dossier. The issue is expected to be at the center of a Quartet ministerial meeting in Lisbon next Thursday. The U.S., which sees Blair's job as preparing the ground for the establishment of viable Palestinian institutions, is reluctant to define for him any political mission. Last week, Washington was not willing to allow Blair to negotiate with Hamas.