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英国前首相托尼•布莱尔6日宣布取消原定于本周三（8日）在伦敦一家书店的回忆录签售活动，以避免部分民众的抗议活动引发混乱。据悉，此次签售活动原定在伦敦水石书店的旗舰店举行，但是考虑到反战份子的抗议活动可能会给普通民众带来不必要的麻烦，同时还需要动用警力维持秩序，布莱尔随即决定取消签售。此前，在都柏林为回忆录《旅程》签售时，布莱尔就曾经遭遇扔鸡蛋和扔鞋等抗议行为。对于那些原本打算到场支持签售的读者，布莱尔表示将会为书店提供一部分亲笔签名的回忆录以满足读者的需求。在这本回忆录中，现年57岁的布莱尔回顾自己任内所做重大决定，批评自己的继任者戈登•布朗，同时为自己出兵伊拉克的决定辩护。该书在发行初期打出五折销售策略，在各大书店均有不俗的销售成绩，有望成为史上最热销的回忆录。
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Tony Blair has cancelled a high-profile signing session of his new memoir in central London amid concerns over planned protests. |
Tony Blair has cancelled a high-profile signing session of his new memoir in central London amid concerns over planned protests.
The former prime minister was due to attend the flagship Waterstone's store in Piccadilly on Wednesday - where anti-war campaigners had promised a hostile reception.
But he said he did not want to subject the public to the "inevitable hassle" protests would cause or use up police resources keeping order at the event.
Eggs and shoes were hurled by protesters and one attempted to make a citizen's arrest when Mr. Blair signed copies of the book - A Journey - in Dublin.
Earlier, Mr. Blair said he was considering scrapping Wednesday's planned follow up amid suggestions other groups, including the British National Party could also turn up.
Announcing the decision in a statement today, Mr. Blair said he would provide signed copies to the store for those who had planned to attend.
"However, I have decided not to go ahead with the signing as I don't want the public to be inconvenienced by the inevitable hassle caused by protesters.
"I know the Metropolitan Police would, as ever, have done a superb job in managing any disruption but I do not wish to impose an extra strain on police resources, simply for a book signing.
In an earlier television interview Mr. Blair had said the event could be cancelled because he did not want to “put everyone through a lot of cost and hassle” and it “is not as if we need to do it”. The book has already broken sales records.
Asked why he was considering undertaking such a book signing given the “lively”, protests, Mr. Blair told ITV’s new Daybreak morning show: “That is quite a good point and frankly in Dublin this is a classic example (where) people that come and protest are in a small minority.
“The ones that are doing all the protesting are the ones that get all the publicity. To be frank I am concerned. I don’t want to put everyone through a lot of cost and hassle at this Wednesday’s signing so I am just thinking about that.
Mr. Blair has already been subjected to a mischievous internet campaign, where some critics want his book to be placed in the crime section of all bookstores.
Heavy discounting helped early sales of Mr. Blair's book. It was reduced by 50 per cent to £12.50 at Waterstone's, Amazon and WHSmith.
A Journey is on target to become Amazon.co.uk's biggest selling memoir of all time, selling more than three times as many copies on its release date as Mr. Mandelson's book.
A Journey includes revealing anecdotes about the ex-premier's time in power, ranging from his concerns about the amount he was drinking to his views on his colleagues' extramarital affairs.
Much attention has focused on Mr. Blair's detailed account of the rift between himself and Gordon Brown, and his concerns about his chancellor's fitness to follow him into 10 Downing Street.
Describing Mr. Brown as brilliant but ''maddening'', Mr. Blair blamed his successor for losing the last election by deviating from the New Labour message.
Published as the first votes were cast in Labour's leadership contest, the book includes a warning that the party must not to drift to the left if it wants to win the next election.
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(Agencies)
（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）
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