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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
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| Blair hails positive Libya talks | Blair hails positive Libya talks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has praised "positive" talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, on the start of his week-long tour of Africa. | UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has praised "positive" talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, on the start of his week-long tour of Africa. |
| Mr Blair, who discussed defence, counter-terrorism and business with the Libyan leader, said relations had been "completely transformed". | Mr Blair, who discussed defence, counter-terrorism and business with the Libyan leader, said relations had been "completely transformed". |
| He spoke as British oil giant BP announced a return to Libya after 30 years, in a gas exploration deal. | |
| Mr Blair will also visit Sierra Leone and South Africa during the tour. | |
| The Africa trip is his last major tour before stepping down as PM. | |
| 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". | 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". |
| A few years back Britain and Libya could never have had this relationship Tony Blair | A few years back Britain and Libya could never have had this relationship Tony Blair |
| He added: "I'd just like to say how positive and constructive the meeting with leader Gaddafi has been. | He added: "I'd just like to say how positive and constructive the meeting with leader Gaddafi has been. |
| "The relationship between Britain and Libya has been completely transformed in these last few years. We now have very strong co-operation on counter-terrorism and defence." | "The relationship between Britain and Libya has been completely transformed in these last few years. We now have very strong co-operation on counter-terrorism and defence." |
| He said the commercial relationship between the two countries was going "from strength to strength" and showed how relations could change. | He said the commercial relationship between the two countries was going "from strength to strength" and showed how relations could change. |
| "A few years back Britain and Libya could never have had this relationship," he added. | "A few years back Britain and Libya could never have had this relationship," he added. |
| Britain and the US persuaded Mr Gaddafi to give up ambitions on nuclear weapons in 2003. | Britain and the US persuaded Mr Gaddafi to give up ambitions on nuclear weapons in 2003. |
| 'Great tragedy' | 'Great tragedy' |
| Later Mr Blair met relatives of the 400 Libyan children who were allegedly deliberately infected with the HIV virus by five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor in 1998. | Later Mr Blair met relatives of the 400 Libyan children who were allegedly deliberately infected with the HIV virus by five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor in 1998. |
| The medical personnel, who say they were made scapegoats for poor hospital hygiene, face the death sentence. | The medical personnel, who say they were made scapegoats for poor hospital hygiene, face the death sentence. |
| Mr Blair said relatives had suffered a great tragedy and told them there was much sympathy for them in the UK. | Mr Blair said relatives had suffered a great tragedy and told them there was much sympathy for them in the UK. |
| During his tour, he hopes to focus attention on Africa and climate change ahead of the forthcoming G8 summit. | During his tour, he 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. | 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. |
| Darfur crisis | Darfur crisis |
| 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 humanitarian crisis in the Sudanese province of Darfur is also likely to be high on the agenda as Mr Blair talks with African leaders. | 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. |
| 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". | 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". |