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Blair begins historic Iraq visit
Basra, May 29: UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has arrived in Iraq on a visit to thank British troops for the role they played in the war.
Basra, May 29: UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has arrived in Iraq on a visit to thank British troops for the role they played in the war.
Blair, who touched down in Iraq's second city of Basra at 7.50BST, is the first western leader to set foot in the country since Saddam Hussein was swept from power.
As well as addressing troops, the prime minister will visit a school to meet Iraqi children before travelling on to the port of Umm Qasr.
He will see for himself what conditions are like for Iraqi people in the aftermath of the conflict.
But his visit has been overshadowed by controversy about the likelihood of weapons of mass destruction being found.
The US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, has suggested that the weapons might have been destroyed before the fighting began.
Robin Cook, who resigned from his UK Cabinet post as the Leader of the Commons over the war, said the remarks had vindicated his decision.
Bureau Report
As well as addressing troops, the prime minister will visit a school to meet Iraqi children before travelling on to the port of Umm Qasr.
He will see for himself what conditions are like for Iraqi people in the aftermath of the conflict.
But his visit has been overshadowed by controversy about the likelihood of weapons of mass destruction being found.
The US Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, has suggested that the weapons might have been destroyed before the fighting began.
Robin Cook, who resigned from his UK Cabinet post as the Leader of the Commons over the war, said the remarks had vindicated his decision.
Bureau Report