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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Blair to get US Medal of Freedom | Blair to get US Medal of Freedom |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will receive the highest civilian award in the US - the Presidential Medal of Freedom - next week. | |
| In his last week in office, President Bush will award the medal to Mr Blair, former Australian PM John Howard and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. | In his last week in office, President Bush will award the medal to Mr Blair, former Australian PM John Howard and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. |
| All three leaders had been "staunch allies" of the US, particularly against terrorism, said the White House. | All three leaders had been "staunch allies" of the US, particularly against terrorism, said the White House. |
| The ceremony will take place at the White House on 13 January. | The ceremony will take place at the White House on 13 January. |
| At a press briefing earlier White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said: "The president is honouring these leaders for their work to improve the lives of their citizens and for their efforts to promote democracy, human rights and peace abroad. " | |
| She added: "Their efforts to bring hope and freedom to people around the globe have made their nations, America and the world community a safer and more secure world. " | |
| The medal of freedom, awarded by the US President, is the highest civilian award in the US, alongside the congressional gold medal - awarded by Congress. | |
| Mr Blair was awarded the congressional gold medal in July 2003, shortly after the invasion of Iraq, but he has yet to collect it. | |
| There was some speculation that unease over the Iraq war and Mr Blair's close friendship with Mr Bush made him reluctant to accept it while in office. | |
| But each medal is individually designed and minted and it was reported it was taking some time to decide on the words and images. | |
| The office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives told the Sunday Telegraph this week that Mr Blair was taking a keen interest in the medal's design, before it was specially made by the US Federal Mint. |