British Prime Minister Tony Blair made a surprise visit to Iraq on Sunday during which he said he stood "four square" behind the Iraqi government.
He also promised that the UK would support the country against those who wished "to live in hatred rather than peace".
During a joint news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, Blair said it was important that "all countries in the region" support the new Iraqi government, and he insisted the country had made progress since the toppling of Saddam Hussein.
He rejected a suggestion that the current sectarian bloodshed was a result of the US and British decision to invade.
 "There is innocent blood being spilt, but it's not being spilt by the Iraqi government democratically elected or by those supporting them. It's being spilt by the very forces that worldwide are trying to prevent moderation, prevent modernisation, prevent people expressing their will through democracy rather than through violence."
Britain has around 7,000 troops in Iraq. Several thousand of them are expected to be withdrawn next year. However, Blair gave no new details of when troops might leave.
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Director: Liu Chi