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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
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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 Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. | Mr Blair is due to have talks with President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. |
| He flew into Baghdad's Green Zone hours after it came under rocket attack - though officials said there was no indication the PM was the target. | He flew into Baghdad's Green Zone hours after it came under rocket attack - though officials said there was no indication the PM was the target. |
| 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. |
| 'Usual business' | 'Usual business' |
| Of the rocket attack, Mr Blair's spokesman said: "We are not pretending this isn't an occurrence that happens on a fairly regular basis. | Of the rocket attack, Mr Blair's spokesman said: "We are not pretending this isn't an occurrence that happens on a fairly regular basis. |
| "We have no information to suggest anything other than the usual business." | "We have no information to suggest anything other than the usual business." |
| Three Katyusha rockets were fired at about 0830 local time (0530 BST), about a mile away from where Mr Blair is meeting Iraqi leaders, BBC correspondent Paul Wood said. One security guard was killed in the attack. | |
| The prime minister had flown from Washington DC via Kuwait. He was greeted by Mr Maliki at the Presidential Residence in the Green Zone. | The prime minister had flown from Washington DC via Kuwait. He was greeted by Mr Maliki at the Presidential Residence in the Green Zone. |
| "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. |
| 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 | 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". | 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. | 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. | "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. |
| 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. |
| In an interview published on Saturday, former US President Jimmy Carter criticised Mr Blair for his "blind" support of the war in Iraq. | In an interview published on Saturday, former US President Jimmy Carter criticised Mr Blair for his "blind" support of the war in Iraq. |
| Mr Blair is due to step down on 27 June. | Mr Blair is due to step down on 27 June. |