Envoy Blair cancels visit to Gaza

Tony Blair is focusing on economic issues as Middle East envoy

The international Middle East envoy, Tony Blair, has cancelled a planned visit to the Gaza Strip.

A spokesman said that the visit had to be postponed because of a specific security threat.

He would have been the most highly ranked international diplomat to visit the strip since the militant movement Hamas took control there in 2007.

He was due to meet UN officials to discuss humanitarian work in the strip and visit a water treatment plant.

He had not been expected to meet any representatives from Hamas.

The international community does not recognise the Hamas government in Gaza.

The European Union, the United States and Israel consider Hamas to be a terrorist organisation.

The movement seized control of Gaza in June 2007 from Fatah forces loyal to the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The former British prime minister was appointed as Middle East envoy in the same month by the Quartet - the US, the EU, the UN and Russia.

Mr Blair was asked to focus on economic issues with the aim of bolstering the chances of a peace deal this year.