LONDON, Nov 15 (AFP) - Prime Minister Tony Blair paid tribute to outgoing US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday, calling him "a remarkable man" and a long-time "good friend" of Britain.
In a statement, Blair -- who has been US President George W. Bush's staunchest ally on Iraq -- said Powell "is a remarkable man and has been a good friend to this country over a very long period".
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw described Powell as "a very, very fine man, a great soldier, a great statesman". He added that he was "confident" of forging a close relationship with whoever succeeds him.
Powell, 67, who had major differences with hawkish members of the Bush administration over Iraq, submitted his resignation as US secretary of state last Friday, the department revealed earlier Monday.
He has agreed to stay on at his post until a replacement has been found, according to a State Department official in Washington who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The former four-star US army general, who chaired the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf War of 1990, has been mentioned as a possible new US ambassador to Britain.
Blair was in Washington last Thursday and Friday for talks with Bush focusing on Iraq and prospects for reviving the Middle East peace process after the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
11/15/2004 17:04 GMT - AFP