The United States-led coalition on Monday transferred sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government, two days ahead of the scheduled June 30 handover date.
The transfer of power took place in a ceremony in Baghdad’s heavily guarded green zone, where outgoing US governor Paul Bremer signed over the country — and its escalating security troubles — to interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi.
”This is a historic day,” Allawi said during the ceremony. ”We feel we are capable of controlling the security situation.” President Ghazi al-Yawer, who was also present, said: ”We’d like to express our thanks to the coalition. There is no way to turn back now.”
Bremer, who is expected to leave Iraq on Monday, said: ”You have said, and we agreed, that you are ready for sovereignty. I will leave Iraq confident in its future.”
Allawi said he requested that the sovereignty be transferred earlier, reflecting a preference to have Iraqis control their own destiny as soon as possible.
Last Thursday, the coalition transferred the final 11 of the 26 government ministries to full Iraqi control, meaning Iraqis were already handling the day-to-day operations of the interim administration.
Bremer went on a series of farewell visits to areas throughout the country over the past few days. With the transfer, the Iraqis now face the daunting task of securing law and order with the help of about 135 000 US troops and about 20 000 more from other coalition countries.
”We have been laying down strategies for protecting our people,” Allawi said after the ceremony, adding that he would spell out details at a news conference later. ”The blood that has been spilled in Iraq has been spilled for a very good reason.”
The development came as the Ministry of Defence said there had been an explosion in Basra, southern Iraq. The MoD said there were some casualties but could not confirm or deny reports that a British soldier had died when an army land rover was attacked. – Guardian Unlimited Â