RIYADH, Oct 31: British Prime Minister Tony Blair renewed here on Wednesday his call for a viable Palestinian state, while praising Saudi assistance in the war on terror.

Blair was speaking to Saudi Arabia’s Shura, or advisory council, the first foreign head of government ever to do so.

As he praised Saudi assistance in the anti-terror campaign, he acknowledged the kingdom’s “unique sensitivities” as the birthplace of Islam.

He stressed that the war in Afghanistan was not against Islam but part of a fight against terrorists.

“This is a struggle between the forces of order and those of anarchy, and the latter cannot be allowed to prevail,” he told a closed session of the 120-member council, which advises the government but can not legislate.

“Terrorism puts at risk the lives and economic well-being of people in countries all over the world,” said the prime minister, who had earlier met with King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah.

Turning to the Middle East, Blair, who was to travel on to Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, stressed the urgent need to help the Palestinians and Israelis.

“We must keep our eyes on the longer term goal — a viable Palestinian state, implementation of UN resolutions and past agreements and a just settlement which ensures peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis,” he said, according to the text of his speech provided by the British embassy.

Sharon “ready to negotiate”: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he was ready to negotiate with the Palestinians and that he himself would lead the talks, although he gave no time frame for a possible meeting.

In response, Palestinian minister for international cooperation Nabil Shaath said the Palestinian Authority was ready to negotiate with Sharon but that Israel’s latest assassinations were aimed at sabotaging peace moves.

Speaking to leaders of the World Jewish Congress in the Israeli parliament, Sharon said “we are ready to negotiate. Myself, I am going to lead all the negotiations, I really believe in that.

“As one who had the merit to participate in all the wars and the battles of the state of Israel — and I saw all the horrors of war — I believe I understand the importance of peace if I may say no less, and I dare to say better, than many of the politicians that speak about peace,” he said.

The former general and ex-chief of staff also warned there would be no quick-fix negotiations.

“For me, peace should be peace for generations. It should be a peace that will provide the Jewish people with security,” he insisted.

Sharon has been under mounting pressure from Washington to seek an end to the Palestinian intifada, or uprising, aimed at ending Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Sharon’s speech came two days ahead of a conference in Spain that both Peres and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat are to attend. Sharon has voiced opposition to their meeting, Israeli sources said.

Responding to Sharon’s statement, Shaath said: “We are always ready to negotiate, if Sharon is ready to come to the negotiating table according to international resolutions.”

He was alluding to UN resolution 242, which calls on Israel to withdraw from all land occupied in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

But Shaath said Sharon appeared more interested in sabotaging peace moves than in promoting them.

He said that even though Sharon was talking about negotiations and speaking on the eve of a visit by British Prime Minister Tony Blair “this man is not moving toward peace. He’s only moving toward killing and assassination.”

Shaath said Sharon’s government usually sends hit squads to kill Palestinian activists each time international diplomatic efforts increase.—Reuters