Blair arrives in Iraqi port

Prime Minister Tony Blair flew by helicopter to the southern Iraqi port of Umm Qasr today – as he continued his tour of British forces in the region.

Mr Blair arrived by Chinook helicopter after a 15-minute flight from Basra to see the UK servicemen and women who captured and held Iraq’s only sea port.

The port, now run by Stevedore Services of America, is a vital gateway to aid and supplies and crucial for Iraq’s future as a trading nation.

The Prime Minister was having talks with local commanders before boarding the minesweeper HMS Ramsey.

The ship helped clear the channel of mines and explosives to open the crucial port and secure it for coalition forces.