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Signs of change in Iraq - Blair Blair's tribute to troops in Iraq
(about 1 hour 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. Tony Blair made an emotional tribute to British troops during his seventh and probably final visit to Iraq as PM.
He brushed aside a mortar attack on Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone minutes before he arrived. He told servicemen and women at the British HQ in Basra, southern Iraq, that they were doing "brilliant" work.
Officials said there was no evidence the attack, close to the British embassy, had been directed at him. Minutes later, two mortars exploded, rocking the building - which typically receives two such attacks a day.
Later Mr Blair visited British troops in Basra, and praised their "brilliant" work against terrorism. Earlier, Mr Blair also brushed aside mortar attacks on Baghdad's Green Zone just before he arrived. He hailed "signs of change and progress" in Iraq.
Both the Basra headquarters and Green Zone occupy large areas and come under frequent attack.
'Thank you'
In Basra, Mr Blair told troops: "This will be my last chance to say thank you for the work that you have done here."
He said they had carried on their vital work despite constant threats and mortar and rocket attacks.
"You have done it and you have done it absolutely brilliantly."
Mr Blair said some people questioned why troops were in Iraq, but he said what they were doing was "of importance to the future of not just Iraq but the rest of the world".
Earlier Mr Blair chatted to groups of servicemen and women over cups of tea, to hear about the problems and challenges they face.
Later, referring to kick-off time at Wembley, he joked: "I'm under strict instructions to wind everything up before the Cup Final begins."
After receiving further detailed military briefings from UK commanders at the HQ, Mr Blair was due to fly back to London.
'Major tragedy''Major tragedy'
Violence has recently flared in the southern Iraqi city, which is under the control of British troops. Twelve British soldiers were killed in Iraq in April. Speaking in Baghdad before moving on to Basra, Mr Blair insisted that things were improving in Iraq - in spite of the mortar attack.
Mr Blair said: "Sometimes the impression is given of everything being completely negative but what you have been doing here in these last few months has just been absolutely remarkable."
The majority of people in Basra wanted to live in peace, he said.
"It's a small minority who are backed by elements in Iran who want to disrupt all that."
Earlier on Saturday, former US President Jimmy Carter criticised the UK prime minister for his "blind" support of the war in Iraq.
Mr Carter told the BBC the UK's "almost undeviating" support for "the ill-advised policies of President George W 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 Saturday's mortar attack.
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 IraqPlainly 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. After talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and President Jalal Talabani, he 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
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 insisted he had "no regrets whatsoever" about removing Saddam.Mr Blair insisted he had "no regrets whatsoever" about removing Saddam.
He re-emphasised Britain's commitment to Iraq once he stands down on 27 June.
"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. Earlier on Saturday, former US President Jimmy Carter criticised the UK prime minister for his "blind" support of the war in Iraq.
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. Mr Carter told the BBC the UK's "almost undeviating" support for "the ill-advised policies of President George W Bush in Iraq had been a major tragedy for the world".
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.