Blair delight at 'new Iraq' BAGHDAD: Praise for government on PM's surprise visit.

Byline: By Mail Reporter

TONY Blair today hailed the formation of an Iraqi government as "a new beginning" on a surprise visit to Baghdad.

Speaking alongside Iraq's new Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki, Mr Blair admitted that the process of achieving a democratically-elected government following the 2003 war had been "longer and harder than any of us would have wanted".

But, he said, the most important thing was that for the first time Iraq had a government of national unity, bringing together representatives of all of the country's communities.

He hailed the "energy and enthusiasm and determination" shown by Iraq's political leaders in creating the new government.

Mr Blair said: "It has been three years of struggle to try to get to this point.

"It has been longer and harder than any of us would have wanted it to be.

"But this is a new beginning and we want to see what you want to see, which is Iraq and the Iraqi people able to take charge of their own destiny and write the next chapter of Iraqi history themselves.

"For the first time, we have a government of national unity that crosses all boundaries and divides."

Mr Blair said there was now "no vestige of excuse" for people to carry on with terrorism or bloodshed.

To those who feared the violence was caused by the presence of coalition troops, he said: "It is the violence that keeps us here' it's peace that will allow us to go."

Those Iraqis who feared they would be excluded from the political process in Baghdad could now see there was a government representing all sides, Mr Blair added.

And he appealed to Iraqis to get behind the new government and help it enforce the rule of law "with full force".

Today's event was "proof" that Iraq was a better place as a result of the military action.

"That's what's happened in Iraq. Iraq has a government elected by its people."

Mr Blair also said he had agreed to work "very closely" with his counterpart Mr Maliki on a security and reconstruction plan for the Basra area of southern Iraq, where UK forces are based.

CAPTION(S):

ARRIVAL... Mr Blair in Baghdad today.