Lebanon divided over Blair visit

By Ian Pannell
BBC News, Lebanon

Feeling against Tony Blair were running high in Lebanon

Downing Street says this is the first time a British Prime Minister has visited Lebanon. Although he only spent a few hours in Beirut, the timing made this a highly controversial first trip.

The country is deeply divided, struggling to recover after a month-long conflict that claimed more than 1,000 lives. Many people in the country hold Mr Blair jointly responsible, along with the US, for not pressing Israel to halt its bombardment.

A few hundred people converged on a large security cordon thrown around the Lebanese prime minister's offices in central Beirut. They chanted slogans and held banners that read "Tony Blair, not welcome" and "Blair, Bush, Olmert - three parts of the same devil."

Most of the demonstrators were probably pro-Hezbollah. The militant Islamic group called for its supporters to leave the bomb-damaged southern suburbs to join the protest. They have a habit of doing what they are asked, as do Hezbollah cabinet ministers, two of whom boycotted a meeting with Mr Blair.

One of the country's leading Shia clerics, Mohammed Fadlallah, also chimed in, calling the British Prime Minister a "key accomplice" who should be "called to account". A planned meeting with Lebanon's top Shia politician, Nabih Berri, was, rather mysteriously, called-off at the last minute.

High-profile support

But it would be wrong to think everyone was opposed to this visit. For those who want to see the Lebanese government and its armed forces strengthened, then this was perhaps a psychological and moral boost.

Fouad Siniora said Britain's support was of 'paramount importance'

The recent conflict has weakened the centre ground in the country, and many think the key to regaining the initiative lies in implementing various UN resolutions which talk about strengthening the government and disarming Hezbollah. Having high-profile support from outsiders like Mr Blair helps in these matters.

This was apparent in the joint press conference held by Mr Blair and Fouad Siniora, the Lebanese Prime Minister.

Mr Siniora said Britain's support was of "paramount importance". Mr Blair spoke about increasing help for reconstruction as well as training and equipment for the country's beleaguered armed forces.

Window of opportunity

One protester managed to get past security, interrupting the press conference, shouting: "Shame on you Tony Blair." She unfurled a banner that showed a dead 11-year-old girl who was killed in a Palestinian refugee camp, along with a slogan reading: "Boycott Israeli apartheid."

Strangely though, the two leaders and many of their most ardent critics actually agree on this very important point - that the key to peace in the region is a meaningful, just and lasting resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The Lebanese prime minister told his British counterpart that there was now a very brief window of opportunity to resolve this issue. Mr Blair agreed and said he will dedicate his remaining days in office to the cause.

The question is whether a man whose standing in the region is diminished by his close relationship with the Bush administration, and whose time in office is now running out, can really pull it off.

The pessimists may once again have their day in the Middle East.