US hands over Najaf base to Iraqis

Iraqi chants of “long live” a top Shiite cleric, the US Army handed over its base in Najaf today, giving Iraqis full control of the city as a first step in transferring security across the country.

The US commander of Forward Operating Base Hotel, Lt. Col. James Oliver, handed the ceremonial keys to the installation to the new Iraqi commander, Col. Saadi Salih al-Maliky.