This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6699447.stm

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Blair in Libya for Gaddafi talks Blair in Libya for Gaddafi talks
(about 2 hours later)
Tony Blair has arrived in Libya at the start of a week-long tour of Africa seen as highlighting what he believes to have been foreign policy successes. Prime Minister Tony Blair has praised "positive" talks with Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, on the start of his week-long tour of Africa.
The prime minister will also visit Sierra Leone and South Africa in his last big tour before stepping down. Mr Blair, who discussed counter-terrorism, defence and business with the Libyan leader, said relations had been "completely transformed".
Ahead of his trip Downing St said BP would be announcing a return to Libya - showing the "benefit of re-engagement". BP is to return to Libya after 30 years after signing a gas exploration deal.
Mr Blair is hoping to focus attention on Africa and climate change ahead of the forthcoming G8 summit. Mr Blair will also visit Sierra Leone and South Africa in his last big tour before stepping down as PM.
Spotlight on Africa Speaking after a two-hour meeting in a tent outside the coastal city of Sirte, Mr Blair said BP's decision to return to operations in Libya marked a "huge investment".
He met Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who Britain and the US persuaded to give up ambitions on nuclear weapons in 2003. A few years back Britain and Libya could never have had this relationship Tony Blair
He last met Mr Gaddafi in 2004 and says he has a "very good relationship" with him even though the country was once "an outcast in the international community". He added: "I'd just like to say how positive and constructive the meeting with Leader Gaddafi has been.
"Our relationship with Libya has been completely transformed and is now a completely productive relationship for us." "The relationship between Britain and Libya has been completely transformed in these last few years. We now have very strong cooperation on counter-terrorism and defence."
He said there would be announcements on "a whole series of measures on future co-operation on counter-terrorism and commercial contracts as well". He said the commercial relationship between the two countries was going "from strength to strength" and showed how relations could change.
Afterwards Mr Blair will travel to Sierra Leone, where he sent British troops to restore order in the early days of his premiership. Nuclear weapons
From there he will head to South Africa. "A few years back Britain and Libya could never have had this relationship," he added.
Britain and the US persuaded Col Gaddafi to give up ambitions on nuclear weapons in 2003.
During his tour, Mr Blair hopes to focus attention on Africa and climate change ahead of the forthcoming G8 summit.
He will travel to Sierra Leone, where he sent British troops to restore order in the early days of his premiership and then on to South Africa.
The South African government has said Mr Blair will hold talks with President Thabo Mbeki and deliver a major policy speech on Africa during his stay in the country.The South African government has said Mr Blair will hold talks with President Thabo Mbeki and deliver a major policy speech on Africa during his stay in the country.
Mr Blair's official spokesman said the trip was about "showing that we need to keep re-engaging on Africa as a whole".Mr Blair's official spokesman said the trip was about "showing that we need to keep re-engaging on Africa as a whole".
He said Sierra Leone was approaching its first elections since the UN left, and "that's only possible because of continuing engagement from countries such as ourselves".He said Sierra Leone was approaching its first elections since the UN left, and "that's only possible because of continuing engagement from countries such as ourselves".
The spokesman said that since Mr Blair's 2004 visit to Libya "we've continued to re-engage on a political level, with ministerial visits". The humanitarian crisis in the Sudanese province of Darfur is also likely to be high on the agenda as Mr Blair talks with African leaders.
Darfur Downing Street said that "all three countries he will visit illustrate, in different ways, the benefits of this government's active, values-driven foreign policy engagement with Africa".
He added: "We've also continued to re-engage at an economic level and today BP will be announcing that they are going back into Libya.
"So re-engagement with countries - whether it's Libya or Sierra Leone or Africa in general - works."
South Africa was an important player and was also a member of the UN Security Council and therefore "an even more important voice on issues such as climate change, but also regional issues such as Darfur".
The humanitarian crisis in the Sudanese province of Darfur is also likely to be high on the agenda as he talks with African leaders.
Downing Street said that "all three countries he will visit illustrate, in different ways, the benefits of this Government's active, values-driven foreign policy engagement with Africa".