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British forces hand over Basra
16/12/2007 12:00 - (SA)
Baghdad - British forces began handing over the last region in Iraq under their control on Sunday, marking the start of what Britain hopes will be a transition to a mission aimed at aiding the economy and providing jobs in an oil-rich region beset by militia infighting.
At a ceremony beginning the handover, Mowafaq al-Rubaie, Iraq's national security adviser, said Iraq was ready to assume responsibility for the far southern province of Basra.
"The security improvements didn't come from nothing, but were the result of huge efforts from both the government and Iraqi people in fighting terrorism, extremism, militias and outlaws," al-Rubaie said.
Basra's city centre was festooned with flags, lights and banners to mark the occasion. But US officials worry that a power vacuum could heighten the influence of Iran and threaten land routes used by the Americans to bring ammunition, food and other supplies from Kuwait to troops to the north.
But Basra's governor, Mohammad al-Waili, said the Iraqis were ready to take over security.
"They are completely prepared to deal with this issue," al-Waili said.
Scepticism
In Baghdad, there was some scepticism that Iraqi forces were ready to take control in Basra, but many agreed that the handover was a positive sign.
"I hope it will be followed by similar steps across the country. Such steps are good for Iraqis," said Awatif Qazaz, a Baghdadi woman.
But Osama Juwad said he feared the security forces were infiltrated by militias.
Britain's participation in the US-led invasion of Iraq and the ongoing presence of troops is deeply unpopular in Britain - as is the $12bn annual cost of operations there. A total of 174 British personnel have died in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion.
British officials have said they will retain the ability to help Iraqi troops quickly if widespread violence erupts, but they are also reducing the number of troops in the country from 4 500 to 2 000 by spring. In the months soon after Saddam Hussein was toppled, there were about 40 000 British troops in Iraq.
The main players in Basra and southern Iraq are the powerful Shiite entities - the radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army militia; Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, leader the largest Shiite political party and the Badr Brigade militia, which has largely been absorbed into the Iraqi security forces; and the Fadhila party, which also has its own fighters and a member as Basra's governor.
Basra police chief Major General Jalil Khalaf survived two assassination attempts in a single week last month and has accused religious vigilante militias of terrorizing women and Christians in the city. - Sapa-AP
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