Blair's aim to 'unite religions'

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he wants to dedicate his life to uniting the world's religions.

The statement has come ahead of the launch of his "faith foundation", which will be officially unveiled in New York on Friday.

The aim is to bring religions together to tackle major global issues such as the UN's eight Millennium Development Goals which range from eradicating extreme poverty to ensuring environmental sustainability.

Mr Blair also said that faith had given him the courage to make unpopular decisions he knew were right during his ten-year spell in office.

In a magazine interview he also said faith could be a civilising force in globalisation", bringing different peoples together to solve some of the world's problems.

He argued: "Faith is part of our future, and faith and the values it brings with it are an essential part of making globalization work."

One of the foundation's first priorities will be to fight the spread of malaria.

Mr Blair said: "If you got churches and mosques and those of the Jewish faith working together to provide the bed nets that are necessary to eliminate malaria, what a fantastic thing that would be.

"That would show faith in action, it would show the importance of cooperation between faiths, and it would show what faith can do for progress."

Mr Blair, who recently converted to Catholicism, revealed that faith had helped him make tough decisions as PM.

He said: "You don't put a hotline up to God and get the answers.

"The worst thing in politics is when you're so scared of losing support that you don't do what you think is the right thing.

"What faith can do is not tell you what is right but give you the strength to do it."

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.