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Blair cancels Gaza visit over security concerns - Middle East, World - The Independent

Tony Blair has cancelled a trip to Gaza in his role as Middle East envoy because of security concerns, a spokeswoman for the former Prime Minister said today.

Ruti Winterstein said that Mr Blair's visit was cancelled because of what she called "specific threats" against him. She did not give details.

Mr Blair's visit was to be his first trip to the coastal territory since the Islamic militant group Hamas seized control of Gaza a year ago.

He was expected to meet with traders and inspect a northern Gaza waste water project being built with international funds.

Hamas was to have provided security for Mr Blair's trip.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 03:54:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Sounds like the envoy to the Middle East is doing one heckuva' job.

"The basis of optimism is sheer terror" - Oscar Wilde
by NordicStorm (michael<-at->sturmbaum.net) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 05:25:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Look, he's doing his best. He goes to all the trouble of organizing a trip to talk to the water-melon sellers in Gaza, and it turns out there are security concerns.

Those Palestinians are just going to have to learn that if they want to sell more carpets and fake Rolexes, they need to tighten up a smidgen in the neighbourhood there.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Wed Jul 16th, 2008 at 03:58:10 AM EST
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