Blair pays final visit to Iraq

Tony Blair arriving in Baghdad yesterday, Reuters

BAGHDAD, Saturday (Reuters) - Britain's Tony Blair today 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.

A mortar, part of a pattern of daily bombardments, landed in the Green Zone as Blair arrived, witnesses said. But Blair's spokesman said: “No information suggest that this was other than usual business.”

Blair's decision to join U.S. President George W. Bush and send British troops to topple Saddam Hussein in 2003 despite huge opposition at home was the defining moment of his rule.

Lingering resentment from the public and within the ruling Labour Party over Blair's steadfast support for Bush and the war ultimately forced him to cut short his third term. He will quit on June 27 and finance minister Gordon Brown will take over.

Attacks on British forces have been rising and April 2007 was the deadliest month since the invasion. Britain is in the process of cutting its force in Basra to 5,500 from 7,000 and drawing back most troops to the international airport.