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| Signs of change in Iraq - Blair | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair said there were "signs of change and progress" in Iraq, as he made his seventh and probably his final visit there as prime minister. | |
| He brushed aside a mortar attack on Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone minutes before he arrived, saying it was a distraction. | He brushed aside a mortar attack on Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone minutes before he arrived, saying it was a distraction. |
| Officials said there was no evidence the attack, close to the British embassy, had been directed at him. | Officials said there was no evidence the attack, close to the British embassy, had been directed at him. |
| Later Mr Blair moved on from Baghdad to Basra, to visit British troops. | Later Mr Blair moved on from Baghdad to Basra, to visit British troops. |
| 'Major tragedy' | 'Major tragedy' |
| Violence has recently flared in the southern city of Basra, which is under the control of British troops. Twelve British soldiers were killed in Iraq in April. | Violence has recently flared in the southern city of Basra, which is under the control of British troops. Twelve British soldiers were killed in Iraq in April. |
| Mr Blair's visit to Iraq coincided with an interview in which former US President Jimmy Carter criticised the UK prime minister for his "blind" support of the war in Iraq. | Mr Blair's visit to Iraq coincided with an interview in which former US President Jimmy Carter criticised the UK prime minister for his "blind" support of the war in Iraq. |
| Mr Carter told the BBC that the UK's "almost undeviating" support for "the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq had been a major tragedy for the world". | Mr Carter told the BBC that the UK's "almost undeviating" support for "the ill-advised policies of President Bush in Iraq had been a major tragedy for the world". |
| But as Mr Blair's farewell tour moved from Washington to Baghdad, Mr Blair insisted that things were improving in Iraq - in spite of the mortar attack close to the British embassy. | But as Mr Blair's farewell tour moved from Washington to Baghdad, Mr Blair insisted that things were improving in Iraq - in spite of the mortar attack close to the British embassy. |
| Plainly the security situation remains very difficult but on the other hand there are real signs of change and progress also Tony Blair Carter attacks Blair on Iraq | Plainly the security situation remains very difficult but on the other hand there are real signs of change and progress also Tony Blair Carter attacks Blair on Iraq |
| Mr Blair, speaking after talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and President Jalal Talabani, told a news conference: "There are mortar attacks and terrorist attacks happening every day, that's the reality. | Mr Blair, speaking after talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and President Jalal Talabani, told a news conference: "There are mortar attacks and terrorist attacks happening every day, that's the reality. |
| "The question is, what are we going to do in the face of these attacks? | "The question is, what are we going to do in the face of these attacks? |
| "The answer is, we don't give in to them. The very purpose of the attacks, the suicide bombs, the mortars aimed in here, is so that you will carry nothing but that on your news and won't actually talk about the progress that's happening here." | "The answer is, we don't give in to them. The very purpose of the attacks, the suicide bombs, the mortars aimed in here, is so that you will carry nothing but that on your news and won't actually talk about the progress that's happening here." |
| He added: "Plainly the security situation remains very difficult but on the other hand there are real signs of change and progress also." | He added: "Plainly the security situation remains very difficult but on the other hand there are real signs of change and progress also." |
| Scepticism | Scepticism |
| Mr Blair appeared irritated at repeated news conference questions about levels of violence. | Mr Blair appeared irritated at repeated news conference questions about levels of violence. |
| He asked one reporter: "Why don't you listen to what the person who is the president of Iraq says about Iraq. They are not saying there's no violence or terrorism in Iraq but they are saying there's also change." | He asked one reporter: "Why don't you listen to what the person who is the president of Iraq says about Iraq. They are not saying there's no violence or terrorism in Iraq but they are saying there's also change." |
| Mr Blair has said support for Iraq's government will continue | Mr Blair has said support for Iraq's government will continue |
| Jamie Doward of The Observer said that Mr Blair's talk of progress was met with scepticism by some of his audience who had experienced the seemingly intractable problems confronting Iraq at first hand. | Jamie Doward of The Observer said that Mr Blair's talk of progress was met with scepticism by some of his audience who had experienced the seemingly intractable problems confronting Iraq at first hand. |
| Mr Blair insisted he had "no regrets whatsoever" about removing Saddam. | Mr Blair insisted he had "no regrets whatsoever" about removing Saddam. |
| And he re-emphasised Britain's commitment to Iraq once he stands down on June 27. | And he re-emphasised Britain's commitment to Iraq once he stands down on June 27. |
| "I've no doubt at all that Britain will remain steadfast in its support for the Iraqi people," Mr Blair said. | "I've no doubt at all that Britain will remain steadfast in its support for the Iraqi people," Mr Blair said. |
| And he warned Iran "has got to understand it can't support terrorism". | And he warned Iran "has got to understand it can't support terrorism". |
| 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. | 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. |
| The prime minister had flown to Iraq from Washington DC via Kuwait. He was greeted by Mr Maliki at the Presidential Residence in the Green Zone. | The prime minister had flown to Iraq from Washington DC via Kuwait. He was greeted by Mr Maliki at the Presidential Residence in the Green Zone. |
| Three Katyusha rockets were fired at about 0830 local time (0530 BST), about a mile away from where Mr Blair was meeting Iraqi leaders. One security guard was killed in the attack. | Three Katyusha rockets were fired at about 0830 local time (0530 BST), about a mile away from where Mr Blair was meeting Iraqi leaders. One security guard was killed in the attack. |