Blair Vows Troops Will Remain in Iraq

British Prime Minister Tony Blair told Iraqi president Jalal Talabani in London Thursday British troops will remain in Iraq as long as necessary.

In his first official visit to Europe since becoming Iraq’s president in April, Talabani thanked Blair and British troops for their role in overcoming the regime of Saddam Hussein. He described the country under Saddam as a concentration camp above ground and a mass grave beneath it.

With regard to reports Wednesday that Iran was helping arm Iraqi insurgents, Blair said devices that killed eight British troops last summer looked like those used by Iran, but stressed we cannot be sure, the BBC said.

Blair said Britain would not be intimidated into giving up its demand that Iran abandon its nuclear program, The Guardian reported.

The talks came ahead of next week’s referendum on a new Iraqi constitution, which will be followed by new elections.