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Blair makes surprise Iraq visit | Blair makes surprise Iraq visit |
(10 minutes later) | |
Prime Minister Tony Blair has made a surprise visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad. | Prime Minister Tony Blair has made a surprise visit to the Iraqi capital Baghdad. |
Mr Blair is due to have talks with President Jalal Talibani and Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. | Mr Blair is due to have talks with President Jalal Talibani and Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. |
"He's in Baghdad against a backdrop of the continuing major security operation but also significant developments in Iraqi politics," a spokesman said. | "He's in Baghdad against a backdrop of the continuing major security operation but also significant developments in Iraqi politics," a spokesman said. |
It is Mr Blair's seventh visit to Iraq and is expected to be his last before he steps down from office next month. | It is Mr Blair's seventh visit to Iraq and is expected to be his last before he steps down from office next month. |
'Crucial' few months | 'Crucial' few months |
The British leader landed in Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone after flying from Washington DC via Kuwait. | The British leader landed in Baghdad's heavily-fortified Green Zone after flying from Washington DC via Kuwait. |
Mr Blair is expected to push for greater reconciliation between Iraq's Sunni and Shia factions. | Mr Blair is expected to push for greater reconciliation between Iraq's Sunni and Shia factions. |
What the prime minister will want to highlight in this visit is the fundamental link between politics and security Mr Blair's spokesman | |
Sunni and Shia leaders are having regular meetings with elected Iraqi officials. | Sunni and Shia leaders are having regular meetings with elected Iraqi officials. |
Mr Blair's spokesman said: "The next few months are crucial in building on that momentum. | Mr Blair's spokesman said: "The next few months are crucial in building on that momentum. |
"What the prime minister will want to highlight in this visit is the fundamental link between politics and security." | "What the prime minister will want to highlight in this visit is the fundamental link between politics and security." |
The spokesman said the visit was intended to allow "the momentum in Iraqi's politics to create the space for long-term peace". | |
Mr Blair's premiership has been tainted by accusations he took the country into an illegal war. A recent poll by the Observer newspaper found 58% of respondents thought the Iraqi invasion was a mistake. | |
"We took a decision that we thought was very difficult. I thought then, and I think now, it was the right decision," Mr Blair said in Washington DC this week. |