LONDON, May 11, SPA -- Tony Blair formally endorsed Gordon Browntoday to be prime minister _ the first time he has offeredsupport for the British treasury chief's bid for theoffice. «I'm absolutely delighted to give my full support toGordon as the next leader of the Labour Party and PrimeMinister and to endorse him fully,» Blair said, the dayafter announcing he would step down as Labour Party leaderon June 27. Blair offered the endorsement while speaking at DowningStreet following talks with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. Blair praised Brown's success in managing Britain'seconomy, which is experiencing a period of unprecedentedprosperity.-- SPA www.spa.gov.sa/448677