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Blair set for Sierra Leone visit Blair set for Sierra Leone visit
(10 minutes later)
UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is due to arrive in Sierra Leone on the second leg of a week-long tour of Africa.UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is due to arrive in Sierra Leone on the second leg of a week-long tour of Africa.
Mr Blair, who sent troops to the West African state in the early days of his premiership, is expected to meet the country's President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.Mr Blair, who sent troops to the West African state in the early days of his premiership, is expected to meet the country's President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah.
On his last major tour before he steps down as prime minister, Mr Blair has already held talks with Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. On his last major tour before he steps down as prime minister, Mr Blair has already held talks with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
He said relations between the countries had been "transformed" in recent years.He said relations between the countries had been "transformed" in recent years.
The BBC's Will Ross, in Sierra Leone's capital Freetown, said Mr Blair is hugely popular there because of his decision to send troops in 2000.The BBC's Will Ross, in Sierra Leone's capital Freetown, said Mr Blair is hugely popular there because of his decision to send troops in 2000.
Our correspondent says the intervention of several hundred British soldiers proved decisive in preventing rebels from taking over the country. The intervention of several hundred British soldiers proved decisive in preventing rebels from taking over the country.
'Continuing engagement''Continuing engagement'
The outgoing British leader will hold talks with President Kabbah and the leader of neighbouring Liberia, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.The outgoing British leader will hold talks with President Kabbah and the leader of neighbouring Liberia, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
Sierra Leone is expected to hold presidential elections in August - the first poll since UN peacekeepers left in 2005.Sierra Leone is expected to hold presidential elections in August - the first poll since UN peacekeepers left in 2005.
A spokesman for Mr Blair said the elections were possible only "because of continuing engagement from countries such as ourselves".A spokesman for Mr Blair said the elections were possible only "because of continuing engagement from countries such as ourselves".
The prime minister had said he hoped his tour would help to focus attention on Africa and climate change in the run-up to the G8 summit.The prime minister had said he hoped his tour would help to focus attention on Africa and climate change in the run-up to the G8 summit.
On Monday, the prime minister described his meeting with Muammar Gaddafi as "positive", saying relations between the two countries had been "completely transformed" in the past few years and could provide a precedent for Iran. On Monday, the prime minister described his meeting with Muammar Gaddafi as "positive", saying relations between the two countries had been "completely transformed" in the years since Libya gave up its nuclear arms ambitions.
He said the transformation could provide a precedent for Iran.