British Prime Minister Tony Blair mounted a defense of his environmental credentials Tuesday after critics rounded on his claim that lawmakers would never ask the public to cut down on air travel.

Blair's office announced he would offset carbon emissions from personal air travel by donating money to environmental projects -- after lobby groups and a government adviser criticized the premier.

The British leader had earlier claimed no politician would ever call on the public to take less flights, suggesting the onus should be on business to develop cleaner fuels.

"I personally think these things are a bit impractical, actually to expect people to do that (take less flights)," Blair told Britain's Sky News in an interview. "It's like telling people you shouldn't drive anywhere."

http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=11999

[Tony Blair donated the money to an environmental research firm that teaches humans to fly by the propulsion of their flatulence. When our reporters tried to ask Mr. Blair for details, he dropped his pants and rocketed away at great speed, leaving behind a stench of rotten eggs.]