Blair Attends Final Meeting at White House

NPR | By Alex Chadwick,

Don Gonyea

Published May 17, 2007 at 1:00 PM EDT

President Bush hosted Tony Blair for a final joint news conference at the White House on Thursday.

The president became somewhat defensive when asked if his relationship with Blair led to the British leader's decision to resign.

Blair announced last week that he will step down as prime minister on June 27. He has been harshly criticized at home for his decision to support the war in Iraq.

The outgoing British prime minister expressed his thanks to President Bush, and both leaders defended the decision to invade Iraq.

Blair spent the night at the White House, an indication of the warm relationship he has with President Bush.

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