BAGHDAD, Jan. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- British Prime Minister Tony BlairSunday flew in Iraq's southern major city of Basra for a surprise visit in this war-torn country.

   Blair arrived on a military military plane from the Egyptian Red Sea resort Sharm el-Sheikh where he was on holiday with his family, reported CNN.

   He was said to meet military commanders and deliver a speech to the 10,000 British troops currently deployed in Iraq during the unannounced daylong visit.

   It was his second visit here since the British troops along side the US allies toppled Saddam Hussein's regime and occupied the country last April.