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| Blair promises Iraq full support | Blair promises Iraq full support |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has said Britain will stand "four-square" behind the Iraqi government in its battle to defeat terrorists. | UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has said Britain will stand "four-square" behind the Iraqi government in its battle to defeat terrorists. |
| On a surprise visit to Baghdad, he also called on all countries in the Middle East to support Iraq's leaders in their quest for democracy. | On a surprise visit to Baghdad, he also called on all countries in the Middle East to support Iraq's leaders in their quest for democracy. |
| He added that the operation to hand over the security of the southern city of Basra to Iraqis was going well. | He added that the operation to hand over the security of the southern city of Basra to Iraqis was going well. |
| But British troops would remain in Iraq "until the job is done", he said. | But British troops would remain in Iraq "until the job is done", he said. |
| Mr Blair met Iraq's leaders as part of a tour of the Middle East. | Mr Blair met Iraq's leaders as part of a tour of the Middle East. |
| His Iraq trip came as gunmen staged a mass kidnapping at the office of the Iraqi Red Crescent in central Baghdad, seizing up to 30 male staff and visitors. | His Iraq trip came as gunmen staged a mass kidnapping at the office of the Iraqi Red Crescent in central Baghdad, seizing up to 30 male staff and visitors. |
| At a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Nouri Maliki, Mr Blair said Britain was determined that attempts to establish democracy in the country would not be destroyed by terrorists or sectarian violence. | At a joint press conference with his Iraqi counterpart Nouri Maliki, Mr Blair said Britain was determined that attempts to establish democracy in the country would not be destroyed by terrorists or sectarian violence. |
| We will continue to support you all the way in that endeavour which is important for Iraq, important for the region and important for the world Prime Minister Tony Blair | We will continue to support you all the way in that endeavour which is important for Iraq, important for the region and important for the world Prime Minister Tony Blair |
| Describing the talks with the Iraqi prime minister, Mr Blair said he had reiterated Britain's determination "to stand four-square" behind the fledgling government and the Iraqi people. | Describing the talks with the Iraqi prime minister, Mr Blair said he had reiterated Britain's determination "to stand four-square" behind the fledgling government and the Iraqi people. |
| He wanted to ensure that democracy was "not destroyed by terrorism, by sectarianism, by those who wish to live in hatred rather than peace. | He wanted to ensure that democracy was "not destroyed by terrorism, by sectarianism, by those who wish to live in hatred rather than peace. |
| "And we will continue to support you all the way in that endeavour which is important for Iraq, important for the region and important for the world," he said. | "And we will continue to support you all the way in that endeavour which is important for Iraq, important for the region and important for the world," he said. |
| Troop withdrawal | Troop withdrawal |
| He defended plans for a gradual withdrawal of British troops from Basra in the south of the country and said it was not a change in direction. | He defended plans for a gradual withdrawal of British troops from Basra in the south of the country and said it was not a change in direction. |
| "This isn't a change of our policy," he said. | "This isn't a change of our policy," he said. |
| "This is our policy. Our policy is that as the Iraqi forces are capable of taking over control of the city of Basra so our forces stand back and go to a support role." | "This is our policy. Our policy is that as the Iraqi forces are capable of taking over control of the city of Basra so our forces stand back and go to a support role." |
| He added that there was a "very strong obligation for all countries in the region to be supportive of the (Iraqi) prime minister and his government". | He added that there was a "very strong obligation for all countries in the region to be supportive of the (Iraqi) prime minister and his government". |
| Mr Maliki said he also thought it was a "regional and international responsibility" to protect Iraq from those who "don't want to see democracy in this country". | |
| Mr Blair paid tribute to Mr Maliki's "courage" through what he described as "difficult and challenging times". | Mr Blair paid tribute to Mr Maliki's "courage" through what he described as "difficult and challenging times". |
| Violence | Violence |
| Mr Blair's trip follows calls from the Iraqi prime minister for former members of Saddam Hussein's army to return to the military. | Mr Blair's trip follows calls from the Iraqi prime minister for former members of Saddam Hussein's army to return to the military. |
| Sectarian violence is currently claiming as many as 100 lives a day and last month's report by the Iraq Study Group, led by former US secretary of state James Baker, described the situation in Iraq as "grave and deteriorating". | Sectarian violence is currently claiming as many as 100 lives a day and last month's report by the Iraq Study Group, led by former US secretary of state James Baker, described the situation in Iraq as "grave and deteriorating". |
| BBC Correspondent Andrew North said that the situation in Iraq had deteriorated significantly since the prime minister's last visit six months ago. | BBC Correspondent Andrew North said that the situation in Iraq had deteriorated significantly since the prime minister's last visit six months ago. |
| Baghdad is the third stop on Mr Blair's Middle East tour, during which he hopes to kick-start the peace process. | Baghdad is the third stop on Mr Blair's Middle East tour, during which he hopes to kick-start the peace process. |
| He has also been to Turkey and to Egypt, where he said the Middle East region faced a "critical moment of decision" and resolving the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians was crucial to stability. | He has also been to Turkey and to Egypt, where he said the Middle East region faced a "critical moment of decision" and resolving the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians was crucial to stability. |
| He also called for international support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. | He also called for international support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. |