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BAGHDAD, Dec 17 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair arrived in Baghdad on Sunday to lend support to the Iraqi government, which is under pressure from Washington to do more to stem worsening violence.

Blair's visit, part of a Middle East tour, came after Iraq's Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called for the return of all officers of Saddam Hussein's disbanded army in an overture to disaffected Sunni Arabs aimed at reducing sectarian strife.

Bloodshed in Iraq since the 2003 invasion has marred Blair's final years in office, dividing the British public and his party, depleting his popularity ratings and reducing Britain's credibility in the region, analysts say.

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