Blair's farewell tour makes stop in Iraq
Ap, Baghdad
Outgoing British leader Tony Blair, whose premiership has been dominated by his unpopular decision to join the 2003 invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, arrived in Iraq yesterday for his seventh and final visit as prime minister. Blair, who was making an unannounced visit before he steps down from office in June, planned to reassure Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki that his departure will not bring an end to Britain's support. Shortly after Blair arrived in the capital's Green Zone, three mortar rounds or rockets exploded in the heavily fortified compound, wounding one person, said US Embassy spokesman Lou Fintor said. One round struck the British Embassy compound, according to security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information. It was not known if Blair was in the embassy at the time.
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British Prime Minister Tony Blair holds a press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Nouri Maliki (far R) and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (C) in Baghdad yesterday. Tony Blair flew into Baghdad yesterday for a surprise final visit to Iraq as Prime Minister. PHOTO: AFP |
