Blair not welcome in Lebanon

Lebanon`s most senior Shia cleric, Grand Ayatullah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah has said in a statement that Fuad Siniora's government should have told

"Blair that he is not wanted in Lebanon, so that he, and those like him, would know that we are not so naive as to welcome him when he has contributed to killing us and slaughtering our children".

This is significant, Blair might like to think he can ignore a man whose spiritual authority extends beyond the borders of Lebanon but Grand Ayatullah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah is Marja (spiritual guide) to millions and is one of the most respected Shia scholar in the World today.

Siniora, already tarnished, will not be forgiven for receiving Blair, unless he has the courage to publicly denounce him. Therefore, it is hard to see what Blair is looking to achieve; his visit presence is exacerbated tensions in a volatile region. One might suspect that Blair is courting martyrdom.