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Mon 04 Apr 2007Speculation mounts on Blair departureBRITAIN:There is renewed speculation in political circles that prime minister Tony Blair could spring a surprise and announce his resignation in the next week, ahead of the devolved and local elections on May 3rd.The general expectation remains that Mr Blair will finally trigger Labour's long-awaited leadership contest a day or two after seeing Northern Ireland's new powersharing Executive sworn in at Stormont on May 8th.