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September 7, 2008 5:57:10 AM CDT

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Blair Offered to Meet Hooded IRA Militants

Posted Mar 17, 08 7:37 AM CDT in World 

(Newser) – A new tell-all book by Tony Blair's chief of staff reveals that the former British prime minister offered to meet with eight leaders of the Irish Republican Army during a critical moment in Northern Irish peace talks. Jonathan Powell, one of Blair's longest-serving allies, admits in a memoir being serialized in the Guardian that the PM was ready to hold talks with terrorists wearing ski masks.

According to Powell, it was Bill Clinton, who had recently left the White House, who convinced Blair of the importance of meeting with the leaders of the IRA's militant wing. "Tony was always convinced of the powers of persuasion that he had to win people over," Powell said in an interview. Only the reservations of Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams kept the PM from becoming the first major world leader to meet an outlawed terrorist organization.

Source Guardian (UK)

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Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams. A new book reveals Tony Blair offered to hold secret direct talks with the IRA to keep the Northern Ireland peace process alive.   (Getty Images)
Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, center, helps to carry the coffin of a slain Irish Republican Army member in 1993. A new book says Tony Blair offered hold direct talks with leader of the IRA (AP Photo)   (AP Photo)
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. A new book says he offered to hold secret direct talks with the IRA to sustain the Northern Ireland peace process.   (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)
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Bill Clinton  • United Kingdom  • Tony Blair  • Northern Ireland  • IRA  • Gerry Adams  • Sinn Fein


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