Brown takes Labor reins

MANCHESTER, England -- Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain yesterday handed over leadership of the Labor Party to his finance minister, Gordon Brown, who pledged that Britain would "meet our international obligations" in Afghanistan and the Middle East but called for going beyond military solutions to combating terrorism.

"Our foreign policy in years ahead will reflect the truth that to isolate and defeat terrorist extremism now involves more than military force -- it is also a struggle of ideas and ideals that in the coming years will be waged and won for hearts and minds here at home and round the world," Brown told cheering supporters gathered for a party conference.

In recent weeks, Brown repeatedly indicated that he stands behind Blair's decision to support and help launch the invasion of Iraq in 2003 but has also said he believes that military and security efforts alone aren't enough to fight militants.

He told party activists that an "essential contribution" that "daily becomes more urgent" is the lasting settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict, with the creation of a Palestinian state and security guarantees to Israel.

Brown also has talked of launching major economic development initiatives in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East to give the region's residents a personal stake in a peaceful future. He has not, however, publicly discussed speeding up the timetable for Britain's planned drawdown of troops in Iraq.

For once, Blair was listening and applauding from the audience as he relinquished leadership of the Labor party after 13 years and endorsed as his successor the man who helped him rebuild the party and take power in 1997 but who has also long waited for his own turn at the top.

"You know, people said it was impossible in our world of politics to have a stable and orderly transition of leadership, and we have proved them wrong," said Blair, whose tumbling popularity over the Iraq war prompted his party to urge his departure midway through his third term.

"I know from his character that he will give of his best in the service of our country, and I know from his record as chancellor that his best is as good as it gets," Blair said of Brown.

Smiling but subdued, Blair threw an arm around his chancellor of the exchequer and party rival and then walked offstage, pointing the cheering crowd back toward Brown.

Blair will formally step down as prime minister on Wednesday, and Brown will hold the position at least until the next general election takes place, which must be held by 2010.

The transition came as Labor appeared to pull ahead of the Conservative Party in public confidence for the first time in eight months.