Blair Warns Iran, Syria Not to Back 'Terrorists'

Reuters News Wire ^ | Wed May 28, 2003 05:39 PM ET | Mike Peacock

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Blair Warns Iran, Syria Not to Back 'Terrorists'
Wed May 28, 2003 05:39 PM ET

By Mike Peacock

KUWAIT CITY (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned Iran and Syria Wednesday not to back "terrorist" groups, echoing U.S. charges against both states.

Blair issued his warning in comments to reporters on his plane before arriving in Kuwait on the eve of a visit to neighboring Iraq. It will be the first by a Western leader since the U.S.-led war that toppled Saddam Hussein.

He warned Iran and Syria not to meddle in Iraq's future or support terror groups and militants who could upset hopes of progress in Israeli-Palestinian peace moves.

"It's particularly important that Iran and Syria cease to support any terrorist groups," Blair said.

U.S. officials have increased pressure on Iran in recent days, accusing it of not doing enough to root out members of al Qaeda on its territory. Tehran denies any links with al Qaeda.

Washington has also accused Syria of backing Palestinian and Lebanese groups it classifies as terrorist, concerned that their conflict with Israel could endanger new Middle East peace moves.

President Bush plans to hold his first summit with the leaders of Israel and the Palestinians in Jordan next week following Israel's qualified acceptance of a U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan, already endorsed by the Palestinians.

Blair was set to go to Iraq Thursday to praise British troops who took part in the war, and put his personal weight behind reconstruction efforts.

He told reporters en route to the Gulf he "wanted to thank (the armed forces) for their magnificent performance, and take stock of humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in Iraq."

"There's a lot of work still to be done to put things right," he said.

IRANIAN ROLE

While Blair took Syria and Iran to task on the issue of terrorism, Britain has taken a more measured approach than Washington, favoring dialogue with both states.

Tuesday, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stepped up charges that Iran was harboring wanted leaders of the Islamic militant network al Qaeda. Insiders say he is pressing for a U.S. policy shift to support "regime change" in Tehran.

Blair stopped well short of that.

In Tehran, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said Wednesday Iran and other neighbors of Iraq wanted to play a postwar role in the country.

"We reached the consensus that only with the participation and advice of Iraq's neighbors could the establishment of a popular government in Baghdad be guaranteed," said Kharrazi, speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of foreign ministers from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Blair was meeting leading Kuwaiti government figures on Wednesday night and was scheduled to hold talks with the emir, Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah, Thursday, officials said.

Details of Blair's visit to Iraq Thursday were being kept under wraps for security reasons, they added.

Blair said life was returning to normal in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, which is controlled by British forces.

But in the capital Baghdad, where U.S. troops have been in charge since taking the city on April 9, he said there remained "serious security problems."

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Now Blair is chiming in with Rumsfeld!

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[syriacus]

Blair Warns Iran, Syria Not to Back 'Terrorists'

I know they are quoting Blair, but, since Reuters is doing the reporting, shouldn't the headline read

Blair Warns Iran, Syria Not to Back Freedom Fighters

?

[Principled]

I think that's why they have the " " around the T word.

[HatSteel]

Pax Anglicana

[LarryM]

I'm sure Iran and Syria are scared to death of Phony Tony.

[cake_crumb]

"In Tehran, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said Wednesday Iran and other neighbors of Iraq wanted to play a postwar role in the country"

Our soldiers are already feeling the effect of Iran's 'post war role' in Iraq, in the form of ambushes and calls for jihad by shia clerics who insist out troops travelled thousands of miles, fought and died....just for the chance to use their night vision goggles to look up the skirts of Iraqi women.

Thank you Jimmaaaaahhh, thank you Bubbaaaahhh, for supporting Iran's mad mullahs.

[blam]

""It's particularly important that Iran and Syria cease to support any terrorist groups," Blair said."

Ah, the English.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

particularly important

Perhaps a very clear warning that something is up!

[syriacus]

You are right.

As I said above, I know they are quoting Blair, but, since Reuters is doing the reporting, shouldn't the headline read Blair Warns Iran, Syria Not to Back Freedom Fighters

I was wondering why they didn't paraphrase what he said. Headlines often have paraphrases and Reuters could have used the paraphrase -- Freedom Fighters -- like I did ----without the quote.

Since Reuters thinks "terrorist" is an offensive word...why did Reuters use that word?

Would Reuters use the (actual) "N" word in a headline, or would they paraphrase someone who used that word?

[Uncle Miltie]

Blair Warns Iran, Syria Not to Back 'Terrorists'

A little late, that.

[blam]

"Perhaps a very clear warning that something is up!"

Well, we still have an on-going war on terror. Maybe just a reminder to these terror states.

[Victoria Delsoul]

"It's particularly important that Iran and Syria cease to support any terrorist groups," Blair said.

Glad to hear that. Iran and Syria are known to sponsor or been involved in training and supporting terrorists.