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| US administrator Paul
Bremer handed power to Chief Justice Midhat
Al-Mahmodi |
| 2004: US transfers power back to
Iraq |
England have
The United States has handed power back to the Iraqi people at a low-key ceremony in Baghdad.
US administrator Paul Bremer transferred sovereignty to an Iraqi
judge at a handover brought forward two days in an attempt to prevent the
occasion being marked by bloodshed.
Mr Bremer flew out of the country shortly after. His departure ends 15
months of US control in Iraq.
Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who attended the handover in
the city's heavily-guarded "Green Zone", said it was an "historic day" for
Iraq.
Mr Allawi's cabinet were sworn in at a later ceremony, also held in
secret.
"Anybody who has seen those things that I have will know that Iraq is a
much better place." Paul Bremer said.
The new prime minister made a
televised address after formally taking office.
He told Iraqis: "I call on our people to stand united to expel the
foreign terrorists who are killing our children and destroying our
country."
Although power is back in Iraqi hands, US President George Bush said
American troops would remain in the country as long as they were needed.
The president added that US presence would also be at the request of
the newly-formed interim
government.
Mr Bremer defended his country's reasons for being in Iraq, referring
to recently discovered graves where thousands victims of Saddam Hussein's
regime are believed to be buried.
The former Coalition Provisional Authority administrator said: "Anybody
who has any doubt about whether Iraq is a better place today than it was
14 months ago should go down and see the mass graves in Hilla.
"Anybody who has seen those things that I have will know that Iraq is a
much better place."
The power handover was welcomed by world leaders. The European Union
and Nato alliance both pledged their support for Mr Allawi's government.
Mr Bush and Mr Blair were apparently the only leaders at the current
Nato summit who knew the transfer of sovereignty would take place early.
The news was revealed by Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari,
speaking after talks with the UK prime minister.
