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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Security tight as Blair in Beirut | Security tight as Blair in Beirut |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has arrived in Lebanon amid tight security, as protesters against his visit gathered in the centre of Beirut. | |
| He will discuss ways of strengthening the government and enforcing the ban on arms shipments to the militant Islamic group Hezbollah. | He will discuss ways of strengthening the government and enforcing the ban on arms shipments to the militant Islamic group Hezbollah. |
| Mr Blair angered many Lebanese by not demanding an early ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. | |
| Lebanon's most senior Shia cleric has tried to have the visit cancelled. | Lebanon's most senior Shia cleric has tried to have the visit cancelled. |
| Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah called on the government to declare Mr Blair persona non grata. | |
| He said Mr Blair should have been told to stay away so he would "know we are not so naive as to welcome him when he has contributed to killing us and slaughtering our children". | |
| Britain's official position during the five-week conflict, which followed the capture by Hezbollah of two Israeli soldiers and the killing of eight others, was that a durable resolution would be better than a "quick fix". | |
| A ceasefire has largely held since the 14 August. | |
| Security forces have sealed off Beirut's central where Mr Blair will hold talks with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. | |
| Protesters have gathered nearby where they began a stand-off with security forces. | |
| Lebanese newspapers have been carrying headlines saying Mr Blair is not welcome in Lebanon. | |
| Blair plan rejected | Blair plan rejected |
| Mr Blair travelled to Lebanon from a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories. | |
| Hamas, the militant group heading the Palestinian Authority, rejected his proposals that it should join a unity government which recognised Israel. | Hamas, the militant group heading the Palestinian Authority, rejected his proposals that it should join a unity government which recognised Israel. |
| A spokesman said the group was willing to form a coalition, but it would not accept conditions imposed from outside. | A spokesman said the group was willing to form a coalition, but it would not accept conditions imposed from outside. |
| Mr Blair said a unity government would allow western donors to end a boycott, imposed after Hamas came to power earlier this year. | Mr Blair said a unity government would allow western donors to end a boycott, imposed after Hamas came to power earlier this year. |
| He was speaking after talks in Ramallah with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. | He was speaking after talks in Ramallah with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. |
| Mr Abbas said on Sunday that he was ready for an "unconditional" meeting with his Israeli counterpart. | Mr Abbas said on Sunday that he was ready for an "unconditional" meeting with his Israeli counterpart. |
| The previous day, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he was prepared for talks without conditions, after meetings with Mr Blair. | The previous day, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he was prepared for talks without conditions, after meetings with Mr Blair. |