Tony Blair Pelted With Eggs at Book Signing

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http://www.aolnews.com/world/article/tony-blair-pelted-with-eggs-at-book-signing/19621242 (video)

Tony Blair Pelted With Eggs at Book Signing

(Sept. 4) – Tony Blair was pelted with eggs and shoes by anti-war protesters this morning in Dublin, where the former British prime minister held a book-signing event to promote a new memoir in which he defends his decision to help invade Iraq.

About 200 activists clashed with Irish police trying to defend a security barrier on Dublin's O'Connell Street, where Blair arrived this morning to sign copies of his book, "A Journey." Tram service in the area was suspended, and roads closed around the Eason's bookstore.

"Hey, hey, Tony, hey! How many kids have you killed today?" chanted dozens of protesters who also threw eggs, shoes and other projectiles at Blair as he emerged from a car surrounded by bodyguards. Members of his security team shielded him with umbrellas at one point, and the eggs did not hit him.

They also called him a war criminal and said the former prime minister has "blood on his hands." Blair's book chronicles his political career, and includes a passionate defense of his policies, including the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Today's Dublin event is his first signing since the book's release earlier this week.
Book buyers lining up to get their copies signed appeared to outnumber the protesters, but just barely. People had to hand over their purses and cell phones before entering the store. Plainclothes security agents mingled in the crowd and recorded people's names. Details were reported by several news agencies.

In addition to today's protest, thousands of Facebook users have joined a group on the social networking site called "Subversively move Tony Blair's memoirs to the crime section in book shops." Users posted photos of "A Journey" relocated to several bookstores' fiction, crime and even "dark fantasy" shelves.

Blair's book also recounts power scuffles and disagreements with his successor, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Facebook user Val Baker wrote of the plot to move Blair's memoirs to the crime section: "I bet Gordon is having a gentle chuckle to himself about this!"



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http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3126541/Blair-cancels-book-signing.html (comments are available on web page)


Blair cancels book signing By STAFF REPORTER

Published: Today

FORMER prime minister Tony Blair has cancelled a high-profile signing of his new book because of planned protests, he said today.
Mr Blair said he was concerned about the potential "hassle and cost" to the police of pressing ahead with Wednesday's event.


Eggs and shoes were thrown by demonstrators at a previous signing in Dublin and anti-war groups had promised a mass protest outside Waterstone's in Piccadilly, Central London.

The ex-PM said it was "sad" people wanted to disrupt such events, but indicated he would call it off amid evidence that hostile groups were set to join in.


 
Memoir ... A Journey
Waterstone's managing director Dominic Myers said: "Our job as a bookseller is to bring books to our customers, and where possible enable them to meet authors as well.

"It is a matter of regret that because of the likely actions of a minority, our customers are now not able to meet a three-times elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, whose book has become our fastest-selling autobiography ever."

Speaking on ITV1's new Daybreak programme about his book — A Journey — this morning, Mr Blair said: "To be frank about it, I am concerned.

"I do not want to put everyone through a lot of cost and hassle on this Wednesday's signing so I am thinking about that."

He said the Metropolitan Police were "fabulous and they will do whatever we ask them to do" but should not be asked to commit resources unnecessarily.

 
He added: "The book is selling fantastically. There are people — particularly now the BNP apparently say they want to get in on the action — you end up just causing a lot of hassle for people and cost when there are better things for the police to do and it's not as if we need to do it.

"It is sad at the same time, frankly. If people want to have a book signed, people should protest but not try and physically prevent you doing it."

Mr Blair has donated all proceeds from sales of A Journey to the Royal British Legion.