Britain's Blair pays final visit to Iraq

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Britain's Blair pays final visit to Iraq
19 May 2007 07:09:57 GMT

By David Clarke

BAGHDAD, May 19 (Reuters) - Britain's Tony Blair on Saturday
paid his final visit as prime minister to Iraq, a country whose
future may define the legacy of his decade in power.

He flew into Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone to meet
President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to
discuss how to push for greater political reconciliation in a
country fractured by sectarian violence.

-snip-

But Blair believes there have been positive political
developments and he wants to discuss a coherent plan with
Maliki to see faster progress.

"We need to take advantage of the possible momentum in Iraqi
politics to create the space for long-term security," Blair's
official spokesman told reporters.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L19109004.htm

[maddezmom]

1. CNNI reporting 3 large blasts in the Green Zone before Blair arrives

[Eugene]

2. Blasts hit Green Zone during Blair visit

Source: Associated Press

Blasts hit Green Zone during Blair visit

9 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - Three mortar rounds or rockets exploded Saturday in the Green
Zone, wounding one person, a U.S. official said. The blasts occurred after
British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived there for talks with Iraqi leaders.

Blair's official spokesman downplayed the incident, saying there was "nothing
to suggest anything other than business as usual."

A fourth projectile exploded just outside the Green Zone, U.S. Embassy spokesman
Lou Fintor said. Fintor did not say where the blasts occurred and made no mention
of Blair's presence.

The blasts occurred about 11:30 a.m., soon after Blair arrived for meetings with
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani. It was unclear how
far the explosions occurred from the meeting site.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070519/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_blair

---

Business as usual. Nothing to see here folks. Move along. :eyes:

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[maddezmom]

4. Three explosions rocked Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone Saturday, wounding one person

Three explosions rocked Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone Saturday, wounding one person, a U.S. Embassy spokesman told CNN.

According to preliminary reports, no deaths occurred.

Embassy spokesman Lou Fintor said, "at approximately 11:30 a.m. there were four explosions," three of them that hit inside the International Zone.

"We are investigating the nature of these explosions," Fintor said, adding that he could not immediately confirm the nationality of the wounded individual but he was looking into it. (Posted 4:36 a.m.)

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/05/19/saturday/index.html?section=cnn_latest

[Jacobin]

5. Blair goes out with a bang

:evilgrin: