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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Blair in Libya for Gaddafi talks | Blair in Libya for Gaddafi talks |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair has praised "positive" talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, on the start of his week-long tour of Africa. | |
| Mr Blair, who discussed counter-terrorism, defence and business with the Libyan leader, said relations had been "completely transformed". | Mr Blair, who discussed counter-terrorism, defence and business with the Libyan leader, said relations had been "completely transformed". |
| BP is to return to Libya after 30 years after signing a gas exploration deal. | BP is to return to Libya after 30 years after signing a gas exploration deal. |
| Mr Blair will also visit Sierra Leone and South Africa in his last big tour before stepping down as PM. | Mr Blair will also visit Sierra Leone and South Africa in his last big tour before stepping down as PM. |
| Speaking after a two-hour meeting in a tent outside the coastal city of Sirte, Mr Blair said BP's decision to return to operations in Libya marked a "huge investment". | Speaking after a two-hour meeting in a tent outside the coastal city of Sirte, Mr Blair said BP's decision to return to operations in Libya marked a "huge investment". |
| A few years back Britain and Libya could never have had this relationship Tony Blair | A few years back Britain and Libya could never have had this relationship Tony Blair |
| He added: "I'd just like to say how positive and constructive the meeting with leader Gaddafi has been. | |
| "The relationship between Britain and Libya has been completely transformed in these last few years. We now have very strong cooperation on counter-terrorism and defence." | "The relationship between Britain and Libya has been completely transformed in these last few years. We now have very strong cooperation on counter-terrorism and defence." |
| He said the commercial relationship between the two countries was going "from strength to strength" and showed how relations could change. | He said the commercial relationship between the two countries was going "from strength to strength" and showed how relations could change. |
| Nuclear weapons | Nuclear weapons |
| "A few years back Britain and Libya could never have had this relationship," he added. | "A few years back Britain and Libya could never have had this relationship," he added. |
| Britain and the US persuaded Mr Gaddafi to give up ambitions on nuclear weapons in 2003. | |
| During his tour, Mr Blair hopes to focus attention on Africa and climate change ahead of the forthcoming G8 summit. | During his tour, Mr Blair hopes to focus attention on Africa and climate change ahead of the forthcoming G8 summit. |
| He will travel to Sierra Leone, where he sent British troops to restore order in the early days of his premiership and then on to South Africa. | He will travel to Sierra Leone, where he sent British troops to restore order in the early days of his premiership and then on to South Africa. |
| The South African government has said Mr Blair will hold talks with President Thabo Mbeki and deliver a major policy speech on Africa during his stay in the country. | The South African government has said Mr Blair will hold talks with President Thabo Mbeki and deliver a major policy speech on Africa during his stay in the country. |
| Mr Blair's official spokesman said the trip was about "showing that we need to keep re-engaging on Africa as a whole". | Mr Blair's official spokesman said the trip was about "showing that we need to keep re-engaging on Africa as a whole". |
| He said Sierra Leone was approaching its first elections since the UN left, and "that's only possible because of continuing engagement from countries such as ourselves". | He said Sierra Leone was approaching its first elections since the UN left, and "that's only possible because of continuing engagement from countries such as ourselves". |
| The humanitarian crisis in the Sudanese province of Darfur is also likely to be high on the agenda as Mr Blair talks with African leaders. | The humanitarian crisis in the Sudanese province of Darfur is also likely to be high on the agenda as Mr Blair talks with African leaders. |
| Downing Street said that "all three countries he will visit illustrate, in different ways, the benefits of this government's active, values-driven foreign policy engagement with Africa". | Downing Street said that "all three countries he will visit illustrate, in different ways, the benefits of this government's active, values-driven foreign policy engagement with Africa". |