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The US has formally handed over power in Iraq, two days ahead of schedule.
In a low-key ceremony in Baghdad, US administrator Paul Bremer gave legal documents to an Iraqi judge at 1026 local time (0626 GMT).
Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who also took part in the ceremony in the heavily-guarded Green Zone, said it was "a historic day".
But the BBC's Dan Damon in Baghdad says the handover will mean little to ordinary Iraqis.
Our correspondent says it is not clear how real the transfer of power will seem to the many Iraqis whose backing is needed to defeat insurgents.
The surprise move to bring forward the handover of sovereignty was first disclosed by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, speaking after talks with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair at a Nato summit in Istanbul.
Mr Zebari told journalists that the transfer of power was being brought forward and welcomed the commitment of Nato countries to help train the Iraqi forces struggling to put down insurgency.
BBC Read More
In a low-key ceremony in Baghdad, US administrator Paul Bremer gave legal documents to an Iraqi judge at 1026 local time (0626 GMT).
Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who also took part in the ceremony in the heavily-guarded Green Zone, said it was "a historic day".
But the BBC's Dan Damon in Baghdad says the handover will mean little to ordinary Iraqis.
Our correspondent says it is not clear how real the transfer of power will seem to the many Iraqis whose backing is needed to defeat insurgents.
The surprise move to bring forward the handover of sovereignty was first disclosed by Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, speaking after talks with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair at a Nato summit in Istanbul.
Mr Zebari told journalists that the transfer of power was being brought forward and welcomed the commitment of Nato countries to help train the Iraqi forces struggling to put down insurgency.
BBC Read More
