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.

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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!"