LONDON, July 2 (Xinhuanet) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Saturday left London for Saudi Arabia, where he will meet with Crown Prince Abdullah on a range of Middle East issues, Downing Street office said.

    "This is an important time for the Middle East, not just in terms of Iraq but also Israeli disengagement," Blair's official spokesman said.

    As both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are pressured to avoid violence during Israel's planned withdrawal from Gaza in August, the spokesman pointed out that Saudi Arabia has close relations with the Palestinians.

    The short trip is Blair's first to Saudi Arabia since 2001.

    Blair will also update the Saudis on his agenda for Britain's current presidencies of both the European Union and the Group of Eight (G8) major industrialized nations.

    He will host G8 leaders at a summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, next week when he has pledged to get a deal on tackling African poverty and acting on climate change.

    Blair will later fly on to Singapore for meetings with the International Olympic Committee before it decides which city will host the 2012 Summer Games.    Enditem