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British tribute to Iraqi war dead

Tony Blair
Prime Minister Tony Blair arrives at Friday's memorial service with wife Cherie.

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LONDON, England -- A service has been held at St. Paul's Cathedral in London to commemorate those who died during the Iraq war.

Almost 2000 people attended the ceremony, including Queen Elizabeth, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Prime Minister Tony Blair and the families of the 50 British military personnel who died in the war.

Also in attendance were leaders of all Britain's main political parties, as well military top brass. Security was extra-tight, with sections of the capital sealed off and police manning barricades around the 17th century cathedral.

The multi-faith service was notable for its lack of triumphalism and military ceremony.

"It will be a simple act of remembrance," CNN's Diana Muriel reported before the service began. " It is not a victory celebration and there is not to be any hint of triumphalism. The emphasis is very much on those who died."

She added that Blair, whose decision to go to war was widely criticized among Britons, would take no active part in the service.

His presence at the Cathedral was criticised by several relatives of dead soldiers. Godfrey Evans, from Llandudno, north Wales, whose son was killed in Iraq, told GMTV on Friday: "He did die in vain and the reason I don't want Mr. Blair there today is because if it was not for him ... there would not be a memorial service because the troops would never have gone there in the first place."

Lance Bombardier Llywelyn Evans died with 11 other servicemen when their helicopter came down in the Kuwaiti desert on the first day of the conflict.

In his address to the congregation Dr Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of All England, who had previously questioned the morality of the war, acknowledged the "mixed emotions" it had aroused.

"As we look out at a still uncertain and dangerous landscape.......we have to acknowledge that moral vision is harder to convert into reality than we should like."

He went on to say that the purpose of the service was to "pause in the presence of God" and to mourn both the servicemen and women who died in the Iraq conflict, and also all those civilians who had been "swept-up" in that conflict through no fault of their own.

He also asked the congregation to pray for "all those working to renew a ravaged country."

The Dean of St. Paul's, the Very Rev. Dr. John Moses, lead prayers for the fallen, the wounded, their families, colleagues and friends. Buglers from the Royal Marines then played the Last Post after which there was a two minute silence.


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