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PM Blair to meet Mid-East leaders | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
UK PM Tony Blair is in Israel on the fourth day of a Middle East tour aimed at reviving a stalled peace process. | |
He is expected to hold talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders amid rising tension in the Gaza Strip. | |
Gaza City saw fighting throughout Sunday, with two killed after the Palestinian leader's call for a poll. | |
Mr Blair came to Israel from Iraq, where he told British troops it was vital to "stand up and fight" for people of tolerance and moderation. | |
Since setting off on his Middle East tour on Friday, he has also visited Turkey and Egypt. | |
While in Egypt, 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. | While in Egypt, 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. |
Truce deal | |
Mr Blair is expected to meet Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday. | |
Armed men have been out in force in Gaza over the weekend | |
His arrival in Tel Aviv late on Sunday came as reports emerged of a deal between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah to end days of violence in the Gaza Strip. | |
Officials of Hamas, which runs the Palestinian government, said they had agreed a truce with Fatah, loyal to Mr Abbas. | |
Yet gunfire continued into the night following a day in which Gaza City saw running street battles, with mortars fired at Mr Abbas's office in Gaza City. | |
Mr Abbas' call for early elections to resolve tensions between the rival factions has been labelled a "coup" by Hamas, sparking renewed fighting between the groups. | |
If we don't stand up and fight for the people of tolerance and moderation ... then the people of hatred and sectarianism will triumph Tony Blair Blair visits Basra troops | |
Hamas won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections in January, but has faced an international aid boycott since because of its refusal to renounce violence or recognise Israel. | |
The current administration was elected until 2010, but the US and UK both backed Mr Abbas's call for new elections. | |
On Sunday, Mr Blair held a press conference in Baghdad with his Iraqi counterpart, Nouri Maliki, in which he said the UK would stand "four-square" behind the Iraqi government in its battle to defeat terrorists. | |
Later he travelled to the southern city of Basra, where he met some of Britain's 7,000-strong military contingent in the country. | Later he travelled to the southern city of Basra, where he met some of Britain's 7,000-strong military contingent in the country. |
He has paid a visit to the troops every Christmas since the 2003 war began. | He has paid a visit to the troops every Christmas since the 2003 war began. |