British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair arrived in Baghdad today in a surprise visit for talks with interim Prime Minister Mr Iyad Allawi .
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Blair called on the whole international community to support the elections planned in Iraq for January, which he said he "very much" hoped would be inclusive of all Iraqis.
British PM Tony Blair speaking in Baghdad today about the pending elections
Regardless of differences over last year's war, the international community should recognise that "this is now about the future", said Mr Blair, standing alongside Mr Allawi. Iraq was engaged in "a battle between democracy and terror", he added.
"Whatever people's feelings or beliefs about the removal of Saddam Hussein and the wisdom of that, there surely is only one side to be on in what is now very clearly a battle between democracy and terror.
"On one side, you have people who desperately want the democratic process to work and want the same democratic freedoms the rest of the world enjoy, and on the other people who are killing and intimidating and trying to destroy a better future for Iraq."
Mr Blair said he had met staff of the Iraqi Electoral Commission, who are preparing for next month's poll, and told them that they were "the heroes of the new Iraq that is being created".
He had also met United Nations staff who were "very, very strongly committed to making sure the elections are held."
The Prime Minister also hailed Mr Allawi for his "leadership" and the "immense courage" shown by him and his colleagues in the Iraqi interim government.
Mr Blair, who will also travel to Jordan and Israel, was clearly aware of the threats in Iraq's capital, where there are daily shootings, bombings and mortar attacks, not least on the Green Zone, Saddam Hussein's former palace.
"Security's really heavy," the prime minister responded when asked what his impressions of Baghdad were, and whether he imagined it would be that way 21 months after Britain and the United States led an invasion to overthrow Saddam.
"You can feel the sense of danger people live in ... I feel a sense of humility," he said, turning to Mr Allawi. "It's a very tough challenge you face. You feel the sense of the challenge."
Mr Blair said he had no doubt Britain was right to have helped oust Saddam and described the fight against Iraq's insurgents as a war between right and wrong. He said it would be won, even if it took time. "Whatever people felt about the original conflict, we the British aren't a nation of quitters," he said.
Agencies
Three people working for the Commission were killed by gunmen in Baghdad two days ago. They were dragged from their car on a busy street, forced to kneel and shot in the head.