EON

London – Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell Thursday praised outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair as a steady and reliable leader.

Speaking on BBC television, Powell, who was in office during the time of crucial United Nations debates in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, said Blair had had an “enormous impact on world politics.”

“He has been a friend, he has been steadfast in the face of negative public opinion, and in the face of crises he’s stood steady. And we could always count on him,” Powell said.