Iraqi power handover completed

Legal documents handing over Iraqi sovereignty were given by US governor Paul Bremer to interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi in a ceremony in the heavily guarded Green Zone.

The US-led coalition transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government today, speeding the move by two days in a bid to surprise insurgents who may have tried to sabotage the step toward self rule.

Legal documents handing over sovereignty were handed over by US governor Paul Bremer to interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi in a ceremony in the heavily guarded Green Zone.

“This is a historical day,” Allawi said. “We feel we are capable of controlling the security situation.”

Bremer will leave Iraq today, coalition officials.

“You have said, and we agreed, that you are ready for sovereignty,” Bremer said in the ceremony. “I will leave Iraq confident in its future.”

In Istanbul, where President George Bush and other leaders were attending a Nato summit, the US administration said it was pleased by the early transfer and said it was a proud day for the Iraqi people.

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.