Australian Prime Minister John Howard today praised outgoing counterpart Tony Blair as courageous for joining the Iraq invasion, despite widespread opposition in the UK.
When asked for his assessment of Mr Blair, who announced his resignation yesterday, Mr Howard said: "A very courageous person, somebody I like immensely.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard. Image: Bryan O'Brien.
"He took on his own party over a very difficult issue and that was Iraq," Mr Howard told Southern Cross Broadcasting.
"He believed in the importance of western countries standing together on these things and I agreed with him."
Mr Blair and Mr Howard come from opposite sides of politics, but were among few world leaders who wholeheartedly embraced US President George Bush's denouncement of Iraq dictator Saddam Hussein in the build-up to the war, and who then ordered their troops to join the invasion.
In another interview, Mr Howard broadened the scope of his praise for Mr Blair beyond Iraq, saying his legacy would be "the courageous part he has played in the international fight against terrorism".
"Tony Blair has displayed enormous courage in participating in difficult circumstances in the international fight against terrorism and he deserves to be well and favourably remembered for that."