Report: Blair to become Mideast envoy

LONDON, June 26 (UPI) -- Outgoing British Prime Minister has been chosen as an international envoy to the Middle East, government sources told The Telegraph Tuesday.

Blair's term as prime minister ends Wednesday, and various reports said the offer could be made as soon as Tuesday.

The role is a representative of the so called Quartet -- The European Union, Russia, the United Nations and United States -- and the position has been vacant since last year when James Wolfensohn, the former president of the World Bank, resigned in frustration, The Times of London reported.

Representatives of the Quartet met in Jerusalem Tuesday to discuss Blair's nomination, The Telegraph said.

Blair was heavily favored by the Bush administration, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in behind-the-scenes negotiations in recent months, the Times said.