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Blair - Iraq support to continue 'Signs of change' in Iraq - Blair
(about 2 hours later)
Prime Minister Tony Blair has said he is sure support for Iraq's government will continue after he stands down. Tony Blair said there were "signs of change and progress" in Iraq, as he made his seventh and final visit there as prime minister.
Mr Blair, on a visit to Baghdad, was speaking after talks with Iraq President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri Maliki. 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.
Later Mr Blair moved on from Baghdad to Basra, to visit British troops.
'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.
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".
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
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 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."
Scepticism
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."
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.
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.
"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. And he warned Iran "has got to understand it can't support terrorism".
"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."
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.
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.
"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
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."
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.
"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.
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. 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.
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. 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.
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.