By JERUSALEM POST STAFFOutgoing British leader Tony Blair arrived in Iraq on Saturday for his seventh - and final - visit as prime minister, hoping to press Baghdad to call new provincial elections and increase efforts to bring those linked to violence into the political process.
Shortly after Blair arrived in the capital's Green Zone, three mortar rounds or rockets exploded in the heavily fortified compound. A fourth projectile exploded just outside the Green Zone.
One person was wounded, US Embassy spokesman Lou Fintor said. Fintor made no mention of Blair's presence, and it was unclear how far the explosions occurred from where the British leader was to meet Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani.
Blair's official spokesman downplayed the incident, saying there was "nothing to suggest anything other than business as usual."RECOMMENDED STORIESIsrael Navy attacks Houthis for first time in Hodeidah Port strikeJUNE 10, 2025Russia to construct eight nuclear power plants in IranJUNE 9, 2025Greta Thunberg among voluntarily deported activists, eight remain in detentionJUNE 10, 2025Jewish woman reveals plot to poison Israelis at Boom Festival in PortugalJUNE 9, 2025