By DPA
Washington : The White House Wednesday paid tribute to Tony Blair as an "extraordinary" ally and said President George W. Bush would reach out to new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Blair's resignation as prime minister earlier Wednesday removed Bush's closest international ally from power and fanned speculation that the US president's relationship with Brown may not be as close.
"Tony Blair has been an extraordinary leader through difficult times," White House spokesman Tony Snow said. "It really has been an extraordinary relationship."
Blair was "one of the first people to reach out and be helpful to him" when Bush became US president in January 2001, Snow told reporters. Asked whether Bush would do the same with Brown, Snow said, "I think it's safe to say."
Blair, who served for 10 years as prime minister, provoked fierce opposition in Britain, Europe and the Middle East for his support of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.