Beirut Braces Itself For PM Tony Blair's Visit
Joseph S. Mayton - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Beirut, Lebanon (AHN) - Lebanon is bracing for demonstrations when British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrives in the capital on Monday. Hezbollah has called him a "killer" due to the stance the Prime Minister took during the recent war between the militant group and Israel. Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's leader, accused Blair of being a "key accomplice" with Israel during the 34-day war between Hezbollah and the Jewish state. The Shiite movement has asked Beirut to declare the British PM a "persona non grata." Lebanese Prime Minster Fouad Siniora announced last Wednesday that his government had invited Blair to visit in order to intervene to end the eight-week blockade of Lebanon by Israel. The blockade has since been lifted. There has been no word from Beirut or London as to what the agenda for the meeting will be. Blair was in Israel and Palestine on Sunday in an attempt to resurrect the stalled peace process in the region. He met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Shiite groups throughout Lebanon have said Blair is not welcome in the country.
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