Blair makes surprise Baghdad visit as rebels kill 22

British Prime Minister Tony Blair today made a surprise visit to Iraq as rebels launched another deadly attack on United States troops.

Mr Blair used his trip to central Baghdad to declare Britain was not “a nation of quitters” who would desert the people of Iraq.

But it came as 22 people were killed and at least 50 injured in an attack on a US military base in the northern city of Mosul.

Insurgents fired rocket and mortar rounds at a dining tent in the Camp Merez Base at lunchtime local time.

Mr Blair was the first foreign head of government to visit central Baghdad since the handover of power to Iyad Allawi’s interim government.

His visit followed a news blackout on his movements requested by Downing Street.

It involved a secret flight last night to the Jordanian capital Amman followed by a swoop this morning into Baghdad, first by RAF Hercules then by helicopter.

Mr Blair’s Puma was escorted by a fleet of US Black Hawk and Apache gunships. He landed in the Iraqi capital’s heavily fortified Green Zone.

There he met US General George Casey, commander of the multi-national force and his British deputy, Lieutenant-General Sir John Kiszely.

After visiting workers at Iraq’s electoral commission, Mr Blair stood side by side with the country’s interim premier Mr Allawi as the two leaders stressed their determination that the poll scheduled for January 30 should go ahead.

Three election officials were recently gunned down in the street and Mr Blair said of his talks with their colleagues: “I said to them they are the heroes of the new Iraq that’s being created.

“They are risking their lives every day to ensure the people of Iraq get the chance to decide their own destiny.

“I feel a sense of humility. I know this is a very tough challenge. You can sense that and feel that.

“Here in Baghdad you feel a sense of the challenges and the difficulties there are.

“I have nothing but admiration for you and your colleagues and everyone here.

“You deserve our gratitude because you are striking a blow for democracy everywhere.”

Mr Allawi said: “We have to stand firm, we have to defeat terror. We are determined that we will proceed with democracy and the elections.”

Mr Blair went on to visit British troops in Basra.