Blair begins journey to Argentina

Blair will visit Brazil, Argentina and Mexico

LONDON, England -- Tony Blair is embarking on a tour of South America and the Caribbean which will include the first visit of a British Prime Minister to Argentina since the Falklands War.

Blair was due to arrive in the region on Sunday, leading a party of British businessmen on a high-speed trip through Jamaica, Brazil and Mexico .

He will meet Argentinian President Fernando de la Rua Wednesday near the Iguazu Falls in Brazil.

The pair will be joined by Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

Blair and de la Rua will then cross into Argentina for a further meeting, Blair's office said last week.

The meeting comes 18 years after Britain ejected Argentine invaders from the Falkland Islands -- the disputed South Atlantic territory which Argentina also claims.

Argentina's former president, Carlos Menem, made an official visit to Britain in 1998.

Blair's office said the Falklands were not on the agenda for his discussions with de la Rua.

The issue was aired two weeks ago in London in talks between Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and his Argentinean counterpart, Adalberto Rodriguez Giavarini, Blair's office said.

Following the Argentina visit, Blair and his wife Cherie will be joined by their children in Mexico for a family vacation.