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Blair urges African intervention PM defends foreign intervention
(20 minutes later)
Tony Blair has been defending his interventionist foreign policy in a keynote speech in South Africa. Tony Blair has used a keynote speech in South Africa to say there is a "moral obligation" to use political action "to make the world better".
He said there was an "international responsibility and duty to protect" people, and promised more training to strengthen African peacekeeping forces. Mr Blair, who promised more training for African peacekeeping forces and continued aid commitment, defended his interventionist foreign policy.
Globalisation meant that it was in all nations' interest to advance "freedom, opportunity and justice for all".
The Africa trip is his last big one before stepping down as prime minister.
On the last leg of his week-long Africa tour, Mr Blair is meeting South African President Thabo Mbeki, where Zimbabwe's political crisis will be on the agenda.On the last leg of his week-long Africa tour, Mr Blair is meeting South African President Thabo Mbeki, where Zimbabwe's political crisis will be on the agenda.
It is Mr Blair's last big trip before he steps down as prime minister.
He has denied that the trip, which has also taken in Libya and Sierra Leone, is a "vanity tour" - dismissing his critics as "cynical".He has denied that the trip, which has also taken in Libya and Sierra Leone, is a "vanity tour" - dismissing his critics as "cynical".
However ferocious the challenges are in this part of Africa it's better to intervene and try to make a difference than stay out and try to cope with the consequences at a later time Tony Blair African media verdict on BlairHowever ferocious the challenges are in this part of Africa it's better to intervene and try to make a difference than stay out and try to cope with the consequences at a later time Tony Blair African media verdict on Blair
BBC political correspondent John Pienaar, travelling with the prime minister, says Mr Blair not only wants to promote interventionist foreign policy but also to "subtly encourage" Mr Mbeki to hasten the departure of Zimbabwe's leader Robert Mugabe.BBC political correspondent John Pienaar, travelling with the prime minister, says Mr Blair not only wants to promote interventionist foreign policy but also to "subtly encourage" Mr Mbeki to hasten the departure of Zimbabwe's leader Robert Mugabe.
He will also hold talks with South Africa's former leader Nelson Mandela.He will also hold talks with South Africa's former leader Nelson Mandela.
In his speech Mr Blair, who has sent UK troops into action in Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan and Iraq while prime minister, said it was in countries' self interest to intervene in failing states.
He said: "I believe in the power of political action to make the world better and the moral obligation to use it.
"I do not believe that in this time - the early 21st century - that international politics can be just about nations' interests, narrowly and traditionally defined.
"I believe that now, today, our self interest is in substantial part defined by the well-being of others, that the consequence of globalisation is that our best chance of security and prosperity lies in advancing freedom, opportunity and justice for all."
On Wednesday, the prime minister held talks with President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone and Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.On Wednesday, the prime minister held talks with President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone and Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
'Paramount chief''Paramount chief'
Afterwards he said: "However ferocious the challenges are in this part of Africa it's better to intervene and try to make a difference than stay out and try to cope with the consequences at a later time."Afterwards he said: "However ferocious the challenges are in this part of Africa it's better to intervene and try to make a difference than stay out and try to cope with the consequences at a later time."
The UK sent peacekeeping troops during to Sierra Leone in 2000, helping to end the country's civil war.The UK sent peacekeeping troops during to Sierra Leone in 2000, helping to end the country's civil war.
The move made Mr Blair a popular figure in the West African state and he was rewarded on Wednesday when he was made an honorary "paramount chief" - a mark of respect in the country.The move made Mr Blair a popular figure in the West African state and he was rewarded on Wednesday when he was made an honorary "paramount chief" - a mark of respect in the country.
On his last major tour before he steps down as prime minister at the end of June, Mr Blair has already held talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.On his last major tour before he steps down as prime minister at the end of June, Mr Blair has already held talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
He said that relations between the UK and Libya had been "completely transformed" in recent years.He said that relations between the UK and Libya had been "completely transformed" in recent years.