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Blair to Reprimand BBC Over Leaked News of Visit to Oman
Tuesday, October 9, 2001
(21:45 GMT)

"We do not want this to be a big issue between the media and us but there are obvious security concerns surrounding the movements of the prime minister and we take those concerns very seriously indeed."

LONDON -- AFX
Prime Minister Tony Blair is to reprimand the BBC after it reported that he will be visiting British troops in Oman, despite requests for a news blackout on the trip, a Downing Street spokesman said.

He told reporters that Blair would be making a, "formal complaint at the highest level of the BBC because representations at a lower level have had no effect."

The incident is the latest episode in a row between the media and the government over the reporting of Blair's movements.

Last week's trip to Russia, Pakistan and India had to be rearranged at the last minute after British papers published reports from Islamabad that Blair would be visiting Pakistan.
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Copyright 2001 AFX News.

Loose lips of either side of The Pond,
Dan