Ex PM Tony Blair puts damning Chilcot woes behind him as he poses for a photo with Albania PM

EX-PM Tony Blair has been pictured holidaying in the sun with Albania's Prime Minister, just a month after he was slammed in the Chilcot Report for rushing to send ill-prepared troops to Iraq.

Last month Mr Blair held a press conference where he spoke of his regrets, while insisting he had made the correct decision to topple Saddam Hussein.

But, last week he appeared to have put recent events behind him and was pictured tanned and smiling in the sun with Albania's PM Edi Rama.

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Mr Rama posted a picture of himself with the former Labour leader on Facebook, in which Mr Blair grins widely while wearing sunglasses and a blue shirt.

has reported that the picture was taken in Dhermi, a village in the south of Albania, where Mr Rama was holidaying.

Mr Blair, 63, was spotted arriving in the area last week.

The former premier was named three years ago as an adviser to Mr Rama. His wife Cherie has also acted as a lawyer for the Albanian government.

A spokeswoman for Mr Rama told The Mail that Mr Blair had been making a "short and private visit". She added: "Mr Blair has never been paid for anything from the Albanian government".

Mr Blair's office said he was there for a short, private visit.