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Blair salutes Falklands veterans Thatcher remembers Falklands dead
(40 minutes later)
Prime Minister Tony Blair has met Falklands War veterans, on the 25th anniversary of the invasion of the islands by Argentina. Former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher has attended a private ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the 25th anniversary of the Falklands invasion.
He said he was "honoured" to meet the group on board HMS Liverpool at the Rosyth dockyard in Fife, Scotland. Lady Thatcher stood in silence during the brief ceremony to remember the 255 Britons who died during the 74-day war.
"It's a day to reflect on just how much, as a country, we owe to our armed forces," he said. She laid a wreath bearing the message: "In memory of those who have given their lives for Britain and for the Falklands Islands".
Baroness Thatcher, prime minister at the time, is attending a private ceremony at St Paul's Cathedral. Earlier, Prime Minister Tony Blair met Falklands veterans in Fife.
The 74-day war claimed the lives of 255 Britons, 655 Argentines and three islanders.The 74-day war claimed the lives of 255 Britons, 655 Argentines and three islanders.
Active duty Wreath laid
Mr Blair presented the ex-servicemen - from the Scots Guards and Royal Navy - with veterans' badges and certificates on the HMS Liverpool on Monday. Lady Thatcher was prime minister when Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982 and dismissed advice from defence officials who feared the islands, 8,000 miles from Britain, could not be re-taken.
The Type 42 destroyer has just undergone a three-month refit and is set to return to active duty. At the service on Monday, she wore a long black coat and black shoes and laid a wreath of yellow and white roses, lilies and orchids at the foot of the Falklands memorial at St Paul's Cathedral.
It's a day to reflect on just how much, as a country, we owe to our armed forces Tony Blair BBC scooped invasion news Argentina marks invasion Business as usual
She was accompanied by Sukie Cameron, the Falkland Islands representative in Britain, who also laid flowers at the memorial.
Lady Thatcher stood with her head bowed as Canon Lucy Winkett offered prayers, and did not speak for the duration of the ceremony.
Earlier, Mr Blair met Falklands War veterans on board HMS Liverpool at the Rosyth dockyard in Fife.
"I was honoured on my visit to HMS Liverpool to meet some of those who courage and professionalism served this country so well, 25 years ago," he said.
"It's a day to reflect on just how much, as a country, we owe to our armed forces," he said.
Mr Blair presented the ex-servicemen - from the Scots Guards and Royal Navy - with veterans' badges and certificatesMr Blair met veterans on board HMS Liverpool
HMS Liverpool, a Type 42 destroyer, has just undergone a three-month refit and is set to return to active duty.
Among those meeting Mr Blair were Lt Com Nigel Smith, who was an able seaman on board HMS Active in 1982 - when he was just 19 years old.Among those meeting Mr Blair were Lt Com Nigel Smith, who was an able seaman on board HMS Active in 1982 - when he was just 19 years old.
I was honoured on my visit to HMS Liverpool to meet some of those who courage and professionalism served this country so well, 25 years ago Tony Blair class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6514011.stm">BBC scooped invasion news class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6517705.stm">Argentina marks invasion class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6519793.stm">Business as usual on invasion day Others included retired Navy officer Bill Gossam MBE, Scots Guard Paul McLaughlan, from East Lothian, and Ian Kaye, from Aberdeen, who took part in the battle of Mount Tumbledown.
Others included retired Navy officer Bill Gossam MBE, Scots Guard Paul McLaughlan, from East Lothian and Ian Kaye, from Aberdeen, who took part in the battle of Mount Tumbledown. Mr Blair was taken on a tour of the ship, watching a simulated air defence exercise and a demonstration of fire fighting techniques - many adapted from lessons learned during the Falklands War.
Mr Blair was taken on a tour of the ship, watching a simulated air defence exercise and a demonstration of fire fighting techniques - many adapted from lessons learnt during the Falklands War. He recently saluted Baroness Thatcher's courage in deciding to fight to reclaim the Falklands.
He added: "I was honoured on my visit to HMS Liverpool to meet some of those who courage and professionalism served this country so well, 25 years ago." His visit on Monday coincided with the announcement of a £6m contract, which will see another Type 42 Destroyer - HMS Gloucester - undergo improvements and repairs at the same yard.
He recently saluted Baroness Thatcher's courage in deciding to fight to reclaim the Falklands Islands, against the advice of defence officials, after the Argentine invasion on 2 April 1982.
In an interview for the Downing Street website, he added: "It was perfectly obvious there was only one way you were going to get it back, and that was by military action."
His visit on Monday coincided with the announcement of a £6m contract, which will see another Type 42 Destroyer - HMS Gloucester, undergo improvements and repairs at the same yard.
Defence equipment and support minister Lord Drayson said it showed progress was being made in developing a framework for a surface ship support alliance - something he described as an "essential element of the defence industrial strategy".