Britain's Tony Blair today paid his final visit as prime minister to Iraq, a country whose future may define the legacy of his decade in power.
He flew into Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone to meet President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to discuss how to push for greater political reconciliation in a country fractured by sectarian violence.
Mr Blair's decision to join US President George W. Bush and send British troops to topple Saddam Hussein in 2003 despite huge opposition at home is seen by many as the defining moment of his rule.
Lingering resentment from the public and within the ruling Labour Party over Mr Blair's steadfast support for Mr Bush and the war ultimately forced him to cut short his third term.
He will quit on June 27th and finance minister Gordon Brown will take over.
Mr Blair met Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani and discussed the situation in Iraq which is beset by sectarian violence. "I have no regrets about removing Saddam, no," Mr Blair told a joint news conference with Mr Maliki and Mr Talabani after their talks about how to bring about greater political reconciliation.
"The future of Iraq should be determined by Iraqis in accordance with their wishes and it is important that all the neighbouring countries understand and respect that," he said.
A mortar round, part of a pattern of daily bombardments, landed in the heavily fortified Green Zone as Blair arrived, witnesses said.
But Mr Blair's spokesman said: "No information suggest that this was other than usual business".
Speaking on the BBC's Newsnight programme, former US President Jimmy Carter said Mr Blair could have exerted greater influence over Mr Bush and his government had shown "subservience" towards the White House over Iraq and other areas of foreign policy.
"I have been really disappointed in the apparent subservience of the British government's policies related to many of the serious mistakes that have been originated in Washington," the 81-year-old former President said.