Blair on Middle East tour

Middle East: British Prime Minister Tony Blair will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday in a bid to progress the stalled Middle East peace process.

Earlier Israeli leader Ehud Olmert told Blair he was ready to meet with the Palestinian president.

"I assured Prime Minister Blair that I am ready to work closely with Chairman of the Palestinian Authority Abbas to implement the road map," Olmert said.

However, securing the freedom of Israel's captured soldiers was his main priority ahead of any meetings with Abbas.

"It is very important that we see what we can do to reenergize this process," Blair said. "It's very easy to be pessimistic, but I do believe that, with the right will, things can be done."

The British Prime Minister will not be meeting with Hamas.

This week Blair was forced to concede that he will leave office within a year.