Skip to main content
The Web    CNN.com      Powered by
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SERVICES
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SEARCH
Web CNN.com
powered by Yahoo!
World
Iraq Banner

Blair visits Iraq, praises troops

Blair traveled to Iraq by military aircraft from Egypt, where he and his family were on vacation.
Blair traveled to Iraq by military aircraft from Egypt, where he and his family were on vacation.

Story Tools

more video VIDEO
British Prime Minister Tony Blair visits UK troops in Basra, Iraq. CNN's Karl Penhaul reports. (January 4)
premium content

(CNN) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair has made an unannounced visit to British troops in Basra, Iraq.

He landed in the southern Iraqi city around 11 a.m. (3 a.m. ET) Sunday after traveling by military aircraft from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where he and his family were on vacation, according to a Downing Street spokesman.

During the day-long visit, he praised British soldiers in a speech delivered to some of the 10,000 British troops stationed in and around Basra, Iraq's second-largest city.

"Iraq today has taken shape under your help and with your guidance in a way that would have been unthinkable a year ago," he said. "[Iraqis] today have some hope and some prospect of a future thanks to you."

Blair also visited an Iraqi police training camp, and observed British soldiers teaching self-defense techniques to trainees.

He is also scheduled to meet military commanders before returning to London Sunday night.

Blair last visited British troops in Basra in May. His latest trip follows President Bush's surprise Thanksgiving Day visit to Baghdad and a visit by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar on December 20.


Story Tools
Subscribe to Time for $1.99 cover
Top Stories
Iran poll to go to run-off
Top Stories
CNN/Money: Security alert issued for 40 million credit cards
 
 
 
 

International Edition
CNN TV CNN International Headline News Transcripts Advertise With Us About Us
SEARCH
   The Web    CNN.com     
Powered by
© 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us.
external link
All external sites will open in a new browser.
CNN.com does not endorse external sites.
 Premium content icon Denotes premium content.
Add RSS headlines.