Blair to leave office in 2007

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Under pressure from his party, British Prime Minister Tony Blair confirmed yesterday that he will leave office within 12 months, marking an apparent private deal with his expected successor, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown.

Mr. Blair refused to give an exact date, however -- at once buying more time and leaving the door open to more discord, as rumblings within the Labour Party grow louder.

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Blair's Pledge to Quit Puts Pressure on Brown to End Party Feud

Tony Blair's promise to step down as U.K. prime minister within a year may not be enough to calm his Labour Party's worst infighting in 30 years. Now it's up to Gordon Brown, his probable successor, to end the feuding.

Academics and pollsters say Chancellor of the Exchequer Brown, who is scheduled to speak to the Scottish Labour Party today in Edinburgh, may be the only one able to convince rebellious lawmakers seeking Blair's immediate departure that the leadership dispute is damaging Labour's chances of retaining power.

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