Yahoo

Friday May 11 11:28 AM ET Blair Vague on Reports of Knighthood for Clinton

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) said Friday he ``hadn't heard'' he was supposed to be considering granting an honorary knighthood to his old friend Bill Clinton, the former U.S. president.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper said Blair was considering the honor for Clinton, but was worried it might offend President Bush (news - web sites) -- even though other former American presidents have received the honor.

Blair laughed when he was asked about the report on GMTV television. ``That's a new one on me,'' he said. ``I hadn't heard that.''

Blair and Clinton, both leaders who pushed their left-wing parties toward the center, were friends even before Blair was elected in 1997.

They deepened their ties in office, but Blair was very careful not to take sides in the U.S. election last year which saw Republican Bush beat Al Gore (news - web sites) to the White House.

Queen Elizabeth officially bestows knighthoods at the recommendation of the prime minister.

Honorary knighthoods have been granted to non-Britons including former U.S. presidents George Bush (the father of the current president) and Ronald Reagan (news - web sites), and Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites).

-- (Paracelsus@Pb.Au), May 11, 2001

Answers

Will Sir BJ sit at the Round Table? Will he keep the round maid beneathe the round table?

-- (Lancelot@Camelot.cum), May 11, 2001.