11/09/2006

Blair defies protests to meet with Lebanese Prime Minister

Prime Minister Tony Blair has arrived in Beirut amid tight security to meet with Lebanese PM, Fouad Siniora, to find ways of resolving the current crisis in the region.

Mr Blair is the first British Prime Minister to visit Lebanon, but his decision to travel to the country has attracted criticism from key Muslim clerics within Lebanon, who have denounced the Prime Minister for what they describe as his 'pro-Israeli' stance during the recent five-week conflict.

Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah called on the Lebanese government to shun Mr Blair, while hundreds of protesters gathered in Beirut to protest against the visit.

Mr Blair travelled to Lebanon at the invitation of Mr Siniora, following a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, and was due to meet with various members of the Lebanese parliament to discuss ways of supporting the government. However, several key figures with close links to Hezbollah declined to join in the talks.

(CL)

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