LONDON - British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Thursday hailed Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's death as "very good news," because a blow against Al-Qaeda in Iraq is "a blow against Al-Qaeda everywhere."
"The prime minister told the cabinet that this was a very important moment in Iraq," a spokesman in Blair's office said.
"Today's announcement was very good news because any blow against Al-Qaeda in Iraq was a blow against Al-Qaeda everywhere," the spokesman said.
Blair, who has suffered a public backlash to his decision to send British troops in support of the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, praised the US-led multinational force and Iraqi security forces.
"The prime minister congratulated the Iraqi, US and UK forces, along with the rest of the coalition, for all they are doing in Iraq to support the new democratically-elected government," the spokesman said.
06/08/2006 09:17 GMT