Tony Blair has called for the expansion of the capabilities of Palestinian security forces to bolster Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking efforts.

After watching Palestinian police recruits quell a mock riot at a training facility during a visit to the West Bank city of Jericho, Mr Blair told reporters: "We've got to try to build the capability of the Palestinian forces."

"We need to invest a lot in changing and restructuring the security services.”

The public comments were Mr Blair's first since arriving in the region last week on his second visit as special envoy for the Quartet of Middle East mediators -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations.

"Obviously there is the political progress that we need - movement towards a settlement of this dispute," Mr Blair added.

He said he hoped both sides "at a later time" will be able to take steps to improve economic conditions for Palestinians "that will really make a difference to people here".