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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Security tight as Blair in Beirut | Security tight as Blair in Beirut |
| (30 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. | 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 his perceived pro-Israeli stance during its recent conflict with 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. | Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah called on the government to declare Mr Blair persona non grata. |
| Tony Blair supported the war, so how can we welcome him here Ali Shahine 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". | 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". |
| Israel's bombardment across Lebanon killed more than 1,100 people, mostly civilians. Its military losses in clashes on the border were 116 men, while 43 civilians died in Hezbollah rocket attacks. | |
| A ceasefire sanctioned by UN Resolution 1701 has largely held since 14 August. | |
| War supporter | |
| Security forces have sealed off Beirut's central where Mr Blair will hold talks with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. | Security forces have sealed off Beirut's central where Mr Blair will hold talks with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. |
| Hundreds of protesters have gathered nearby where they began a stand-off with security forces. | |
| "Tony Blair supports America and Israel and has supported the war, so how can we welcome him here," said 21-year-old hotel worker Ali Shahine, who was among the protesters. | |
| Lebanese newspapers have been carrying headlines saying Mr Blair is not welcome in Lebanon. | Lebanese newspapers have been carrying headlines saying Mr Blair is not welcome in Lebanon. |
| A spokesman for Mr Blair said expressions of anger would not be surprising in Lebanon, but the visit was to "resume our practical assistance for Lebanon as it recovers" after the conflict. | |
| Mr Blair travelled to the country after 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 in order for an international boycott to be lifted. | |
| 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. |