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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Blair - Iraq support to continue | Blair - Iraq support to continue |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he is sure support for Iraq's government will continue after he stands down. | Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he is sure support for Iraq's government will continue after he stands down. |
| Mr Blair, on a visit to Baghdad, was speaking after talks with Iraq President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. | |
| "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. |
| He added there were "real signs of change and progress" in Iraq despite the security situation. | He added there were "real signs of change and progress" in Iraq despite the security situation. |
| "There are things as you will know that are happening in different parts of Iraq that do give us some pause for hope," Mr Blair said. | "There are things as you will know that are happening in different parts of Iraq that do give us some pause for hope," Mr Blair said. |
| He added: "It is important that we continue to take whatever action necessary against al Qaeda or against anyone who would use violence and terrorism to thwart the progress of the country." | He added: "It is important that we continue to take whatever action necessary against al Qaeda or against anyone who would use violence and terrorism to thwart the progress of the country." |
| Steadfast support | Steadfast support |
| Mr Blair 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. | Mr Blair 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. |
| He said he believed Britain would still be committed to Iraq after his departure. | He said he believed Britain would still be committed to Iraq after his departure. |
| "The policy I introduced is a policy for the whole of the government. Even when I leave office I'm sure that will continue." | "The policy I introduced is a policy for the whole of the government. Even when I leave office I'm sure that will continue." |
| Tony Blair flew into Baghdad's fortified Green Zone | Tony Blair flew into Baghdad's fortified Green Zone |
| Of the earlier 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 earlier 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. | 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. |
| Iran has got to understand that it can't support terrorism and want to work with us at the same time Prime Minister Tony Blair | |
| Mr Blair said: "Mortar attacks and terrorist attacks are happening every day, that's the reality. The question is, what are we going to do in the face of those attacks? | |
| "Those attacks, by a minority of people who want to destroy the progress here. And the answer is, we don't give into them." | |
| Mr Blair also said Britain could only have a positive relationship with Iraq's neighbour Iran if Iran supported the democratically-elected Iraqi government. | |
| 'Significant developments' | |
| "We know that it's important to work with Iran. But Iran has got to understand that it can't support terrorism and want to work with us at the same time." | |
| 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. The spokesman said the visit was intended to allow "the momentum in Iraq'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. |