Blair leaves the Gulf region following a historical visit to Iraq
Iraq-UK, Politics, 5/30/2003

British prime minister Tony Blair left the Gulf region yesterday following a historic visit to Iraq, which was the first by an official at this level in the coalition which toppled the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to a country fatigued by the war.

Blair arrived in Kuwait in the afternoon on board of a helicopter belonging to the British Airways following a tour in al-Basra and Um Qasr to the south of Iraq where he had inspected the military forces and met with civilian and military men of the Anglo- American coalition.

Immediately, the British prime minister left Kuwait for Poland. Blair had arrived in Kuwait on Wednesday. He thanked the Kuwaiti officials for their support of the coalition forces during the war against Iraq.

Blair arrived in Um al-Qasr, the coastal city in the south of Iraq, coming from al-Basra. He headed for Um al-Qasr in a helicopter after he had inspected the British forces in al-Basra ( south ), where he had also met with the American administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer and the civil British official John Soars.

The British prime minister also met with British military officials in Um Qasr where the only deep Iraqi port exits, 100 Km to the south of al-Basra. Blair also visited the landmines eliminator "Racy" which is anchored in the port.

Before leaving al-Basra, Blair talked before the 7th armored contingent in front of one of Saddam's deserted palaces. He described the war in Iraq as the historic moment of this century . He said that "liberating the country from Saddam is a big matter, and a great and historical work for the people of Iraq. And we should be proud of what you have done." Blair also linked between the collapse of the Iraqi regime and achieving a progress in the ME peace process. He said "you can seen that the peace process and what is taking place in Israel and Palestine, all matters which indicate the beginning of a new hope for the future."

Previous Stories:
  Blair today in Southern Iraq: warns Syria, Iraq against interventions   (5/29/2003)
  Al-Assad, Blair review ME developments   (5/15/2003)
  British minister resigns over PM plans concerning Iraq   (5/13/2003)

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