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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 alow-keyceremony 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-formedinterimgovernment.
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.
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