Blair makes new plea for peace

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said he wants agreement on both issues by the end of 2008. Sharing the same level of ambition, Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel called for China to open its doors to the Dalai Lama and for an end to the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region. PepsiCo chief Indra Nooyi urged lower food prices so the poor don't go hungry in 2008.

The final session of this year's gathering of the world's rich and powerful seemed to shrug off any pessimism about what can be achieved in the coming months despite fears that the US economic downturn could lead to a global recession.

"The mood was moderately optimistic because we have many, many opportunities," the forum's founder, Klaus Schwab, said. "But if we do not address the challenges, one day even the greatest opportunities will not be enough to guarantee our continuation as humankind if you look at climate change, terrorism, poverty."

The five-day political and economic brainstorming session that brought nearly 2,500 of the world's movers and shakers to this Swiss ski resort was short on "glitz" this year - with the exception of rock star Bono and Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson, who are both anti-poverty campaigners.

The real stars of Davos remain the young entrepreneurs like YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley, and perennial favourite Bill Gates who got a standing ovation in his last appearance as Microsoft chairman. He is stepping down later this year to focus more on philanthropy.

Politically, there was much talk about whether Bush's goal of a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians by the end of the year will be reached.

"I would like to see an agreement that gives us the prospect of a lasting peace between Israel and Palestine because I do think that would be the greatest signal of reconciliation with which the 21st century could start," said Mr Blair, who is now the chief envoy for the key international Mideast mediators known as the Quartet.

"The terms of an agreement are not the toughest challenge," he said.

"The absolute key to resolving this is to continue the political process" and change "the facts on the ground" to meet Israel's security concerns and give Palestinians "greater confidence that Israel will lift the burden of occupation," Mr Blair said.