Police confronted protesters after they tried to block the road as former British prime minister Tony Blair arrived for a public book-signing in Dublin.Police confronted protesters after they tried to block the road as former British prime minister Tony Blair arrived for a public book-signing in Dublin. (Peter Morrison/Associated Press)It was a tough reception for former British prime minister Tony Blair as he arrived in Dublin on Saturday for a book-signing, dedicated to his newly published memoir.

Blair was protected by bodyguards as demonstrators threw objects — including shoes and eggs —outside Eason's bookstore in the Irish capital.

He held the first public signing for his book, A Journey, which details his administration's military foray into the Iraq war alongside the United States.

Outside the store, police scuffled with protesters who chanted that Blair had "blood on his hands," while the former prime minister shook hands with employees inside.

Three demonstrators were arrested after they broke through a security barrier.

Released this week, A Journey is Amazon's bestselling title in Britain, and has climbed into the top 10 on the online retailer's U.S. chart.

In the book, he describes the aftermath of the Iraq invasion in 2003 as a "nightmare." But he also says he is not sorry for his decision to enter the war, although he has wept for its victims. He is donating all proceeds from the book to a charity for wounded troops.

With files from The Associated Press