Blair hails British troops

The Prime Minister stood on the terrace of Saddam Hussein's palace in Basra today and told Britain's forces: "You made our country hold its head up high."

In an event laden with symbolism, Tony Blair delivered personal thanks to some 140 soldiers of the 7th Armoured Brigade, the Desert Rats.

Mr Blair is the first western leader to visit the war zone. His flying tour - fewer than six hours in all - included a visit to a school, reopened with about £15,000 of British aid.

There he was treated by children to a chorus of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and was kissed on the cheek by a six-year-old boy. The smart new uniforms worn by the girls, along with basic equipment such as pens and pencils, arrived two days ago.

Mr Blair then flew to speak to soldiers at Umm Qasr, Britain's first major capture, and - in searing temperatures - went aboard the Royal Navy minesweeper, HMS Ramsey.

The toppling of Saddam, the Prime Minister said at Basra, "will be seen as one of the finest, defining moments of our century". Britain's forces had gained "the admiration of the world" for the way they had won the war and set about winning the peace.

He went on: "I know this was real war, with real bloodshed and real casualties.

"There are people who you have known who are not going back home and we grieve for them and pay respect for everything they did." The end result, the toppling of Saddam, was "one huge thing, a momentous and mighty act for the people of Iraq which you did and of which you can be proud".

The short speech was received with no more than a murmur. But there was applause later after the Prime Minister talked to soldiers and posed for photographs at their request.