Assad Close To Being Knighted Under Blair
Assad Close To Being Knighted Under Blair
Asma and Bashar al-Assad meeting the Queen during their 2002 visit (Kirsty Wigglesworth/Scott Barbour)
TONY BLAIR’S government considered asking the Queen to bestow an honorary knighthood on President Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian dictator, official papers reveal.
The decision to court Assad came despite the Syrian leader attacking Israel and comparing pro-Palestinian terrorists to the French resistance at an event attended by Blair.
Discussions about the honour took place ahead of Assad’s visit to Britain in 2002 during which he sought “as much pomp and ceremony as possible”. The Arab leader was granted audiences with the Queen and the Prince of Wales, lunch with Blair at Downing Street, a platform in parliament and many other privileges.
posted by Satish Sharma at
14:35
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