Tony Blair today praised a unique interfaith meeting in Madrid, which brought together representatives of many faiths inclosing Christians, Jews, Muslims and Buddhists, as having "tremendous possibilities for the future."

The World Conference on Dialogue was organised by the Muslim World League is a personal project of King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, which gives it "huge significance", Mr Blair added.

King Abdullah, who is also the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of Mecca and Medina, began the conference by telling delegates that he brought them a message from a meeting of Islamic leaders last month.

He said it was "a message that declares that Islam is the religion of moderation and tolerance, a message that calls for constructive dialogue among followers of religions, and a message that promises to open up a new page for mankind, in which concord will replace conflict".

Speaking at the conference, Mr Blair said that "it is of huge significance that the King of Saudi Arabia, who is after all the keeper of the Two Holy Mosques, so has a very particular place in the world of Islam, is launching this inter-faith dialogue and addressing a group of people that will include not just Christians, but Jews and people of other faiths as well.

"For many people round the world who are uncertain about what their relationship with Islam should be, who may often think that there are people within Islam who are hostile to those of other faiths who don't believe in peaceful co-existence - this conference is a very strong signal, from the top, that the true faith of Islam is about peaceful co-existence

"I think the whole point about it, and this is the reason for my Foundation and the reason I believe so passionately in the inter-faith idea and why I think what the King of Saudi Arabia is doing is so important: The truth is the world today is pushing people together, globalisation is pushing people together. If religious faith becomes a means of pulling them apart it becomes dangerous and divisive. And actually what we have to learn therefore is peaceful co-existence."

To listen to Tony Blair's interview with the BBC click HERE

For more details on the World Conference on Dialogue click HERE