The Poodle


Protestors carry posters with slogans against British Prime Minister Tony Blair and a picture of Hizbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during a demonstration organised by Hizbollah in Beirut September 11, 2006. Hundreds of Lebanese protested against Blair's visit to Beirut on Monday, accusing him of backing Israel's 34-day war with Hizbollah guerrillas. (LEBANON)

11 Sep 2006 REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir

Blair's visit to Beirut sparks backlash

A young woman protester managed to disrupt a press conference by Tony Blair at the end of a Lebanon trip which was boycotted by political leaders of the powerful Shia community.

Mr Blair's arrival in Beirut provoked a huge demonstration. His motorcade swept past hundreds of heavily armed police a nd troops, who were out in the streets to keep the protesters under control. A large part of central Beirut was sealed off with barbed wire and cement barriers.

Slipping through the security net to interrupt his joint press conference with the Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, an Irish peace activist, Caoimhe Butterly, unfurled a banner attacking Israel and declared: "This is an insult to the thousands of Lebanese who have died as a result of Blair's policies."

Tony Blair, next to Bush, must be one of the most depised men in the Middle East.

Even the Israelis acknowlege that their military tactics in southern Lebanon proved useless yet Blair can't also admit that the Israeli's did not really achieve anything in southern Lebanona and instead gave plenty of free publicity for Hezbollah and increased their stock amongst ordinary Middle East citizens.


Protestors carry posters against British Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to Lebanon and wave Lebanese flags during a demonstration organized by Hizbollah in Beirut September 11, 2006. (LEBANON)

11 Sep 2006 REUTERS/Reinhard Krause

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Another warm reception for Blair

Pariah.