By Mark Deen, Sept. 11 (Bloomberg) — Prime Minister Tony Blair drew protesters in Beirut as he met with his Lebanese counterpart Fouad Siniora after refusing to condemn Israel’s bombardment of the country. “Given the events of the past few months, it would be surprising if there weren’t demonstrations,” Blair’s spokesman Tom Kelly said today.

Blair, on the first visit to Lebanon by a serving British prime minister, is seeking to cement peace in the Middle East after a 34-day war between Israel and Hezbollah fighters. Britain refused to call for an immediate cease-fire when hostilities began July 12, instead siding with U.S. demands for a lasting agreement. Lebanese cabinet ministers and other lawmakers will meet with Blair today, though ministers from the political wing of Hezbollah, a Shiite Muslim militia based in southern Beirut and south Lebanon, won’t attend. Parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri canceled a planned meeting with Blair, saying he was out of the country.

Lebanese television showed pictures of crowds packed into central Beirut waving flags and banners to protest against Blair’s visit. A demonstrator carrying a banner interrupted a joint press conference with Blair and Siniora and was removed. The United Nations is seeking to prevent a recurrence of hostilities that left 1,200 people dead in Lebanon and 159 in Israel. UN Security Council Resolution 1701 established a cease- fire that began on Aug. 14. The measure calls for an international force to be deployed in southern Lebanon and for Hezbollah to disarm and stop importing weapons. At the press conference, Blair called for the full implementation of the resolution. He said Britain has committed 40 million pounds ($75 million) to help reconstruction efforts in Lebanon this year and is ready to do more.

U.K. Contribution

At the press conference, Blair called for the full implementation of the resolution. He said Britain has committed 40 million pounds ($75 million) to help reconstruction efforts in Lebanon this year and is ready to do more.

Blair yesterday met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Blair said it is vital to “re-energize” the search for a “lasting and comprehensive” agreement to end the Israeli- Palestinian conflict at the heart of the Middle East conflict.

“We are not going to end this conflict between Israel and Palestine except on a just basis which means two states living side by side in peace and accepting that each state has the right to exist,” Blair said. He pledged to his “utmost” to facilitate an accord.

The trip comes as Blair is beset by record-low opinion poll ratings at home and infighting over when he should step down. Blair was forced to admit last week that he will retire within a year after eight junior members of his Labour Party government resigned, demanding he quit immediately.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mark Deen in Jerusalem