Britain hands Basra back to the Iraqis
By Con Coughlin in Basra
16/12/2007
Daily Mail
Britain today formally handed control of Basra to the Iraqi government in a move that will pave the way for a dramatic reduction in the number of British troops stationed in Iraq next year.
In a simple ceremony conducted in the disused departure lounge of Basra airport, Major-General Graham Binns, the commander of British forces in Iraq, signed a memorandum of understanding that gives local Iraqi leaders responsibility for running the province.
British Army's Major General Graham Binns shakes hands with Mowafaq al-Rubaie, Iraq's national security adviser
There was a brief moment of confusion when General Mohan al-Furaiji, the head of southern Iraq's security forces, insisted that he sign the agreement as well as Basra's provincial governor, Muhammad Wa'ili.
Previously it had been agreed that only Mr Wa'ili would sign the memorandum.
But after a short delay it was agreed that both men sign the document that formally brings to an end Britain's responsibility for administering the four Iraqi provinces placed under its control following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003.
Basra has been the scene of some of the fiercest fighting between British forces and Iraqi militant groups, but today's hour-long ceremony passed without incident.
Returning the province to Iraqi control Maj Gen Binns said the city had been pulled from the grip of its enemies.
"I now formally hand it back to its friends," he said. "We will continue to help train Basra security forces. But we are guests in your country, and we will act accordingly."
A British soldier, and two Iraqi soldiers, with a prisoner
David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, who was present at the ceremony, said that Britain remained committed to helping the Iraqis with the political and economic reconstruction efforts: "Our aim is to see an Iraq run by Iraqis for all Iraqis."
But he acknowledged that Britain was not handing "a land of milk and honey" to the Iraqis, and conceded that the region had several problems which needed to be tackled.
"This remains a violent society whose tensions need to addressed, but they need to be addressed by Iraqi political leaders and it is politics that is going to have to come to the fore in the months and years ahead," he said.
Mowafaq al-Rubaie, Iraq's national security adviser, said his country was ready to take on the burden of governing Basra province independently.
"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," he said.
Locals voice their opinions on the handover of power to Iraqi forces
An indication of the continuing threat of violence in the province came the previous night when insurgents fired 13 mortar rounds at the air base on the city outskirts which is now the main headquarters for British forces.
A few hours later several Iraqi insurgents were reported killed when they were hit by an American air strike as the prepared to launch another attack on the air base.
But Mr Miliband, who is making his first visit to Iraq since becoming Foreign Secretary last summer, said he was hopeful that local Iraqi political leaders were now more interested in pursuing political dialogue than fighting each other.
In his speech accepting responsibility for running Basra, Governor Wa'ili said he extended the "hand of friendship" to all the militias in the city, and called on them to lay down their arms.
Welcoming the gesture, Mr Miliband said the future of Iraq needed to be sorted by the Iraqis, not the military.
"This is an opportunity for them to do something positive, and I hope they will take it."
The dramatic drop in violence in Basra since British forces withdrew to the air base last September means that the government will now be able to press ahead with its plans to reduce the 5,000-strong British force by half next year.
dailymail.co.uk
By Con Coughlin in Basra
16/12/2007
Daily Mail
Britain today formally handed control of Basra to the Iraqi government in a move that will pave the way for a dramatic reduction in the number of British troops stationed in Iraq next year.
In a simple ceremony conducted in the disused departure lounge of Basra airport, Major-General Graham Binns, the commander of British forces in Iraq, signed a memorandum of understanding that gives local Iraqi leaders responsibility for running the province.
British Army's Major General Graham Binns shakes hands with Mowafaq al-Rubaie, Iraq's national security adviser
There was a brief moment of confusion when General Mohan al-Furaiji, the head of southern Iraq's security forces, insisted that he sign the agreement as well as Basra's provincial governor, Muhammad Wa'ili.
Previously it had been agreed that only Mr Wa'ili would sign the memorandum.
But after a short delay it was agreed that both men sign the document that formally brings to an end Britain's responsibility for administering the four Iraqi provinces placed under its control following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003.
Basra has been the scene of some of the fiercest fighting between British forces and Iraqi militant groups, but today's hour-long ceremony passed without incident.
Returning the province to Iraqi control Maj Gen Binns said the city had been pulled from the grip of its enemies.
"I now formally hand it back to its friends," he said. "We will continue to help train Basra security forces. But we are guests in your country, and we will act accordingly."
A British soldier, and two Iraqi soldiers, with a prisoner
David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, who was present at the ceremony, said that Britain remained committed to helping the Iraqis with the political and economic reconstruction efforts: "Our aim is to see an Iraq run by Iraqis for all Iraqis."
But he acknowledged that Britain was not handing "a land of milk and honey" to the Iraqis, and conceded that the region had several problems which needed to be tackled.
"This remains a violent society whose tensions need to addressed, but they need to be addressed by Iraqi political leaders and it is politics that is going to have to come to the fore in the months and years ahead," he said.
Mowafaq al-Rubaie, Iraq's national security adviser, said his country was ready to take on the burden of governing Basra province independently.
"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," he said.
Locals voice their opinions on the handover of power to Iraqi forces
An indication of the continuing threat of violence in the province came the previous night when insurgents fired 13 mortar rounds at the air base on the city outskirts which is now the main headquarters for British forces.
A few hours later several Iraqi insurgents were reported killed when they were hit by an American air strike as the prepared to launch another attack on the air base.
But Mr Miliband, who is making his first visit to Iraq since becoming Foreign Secretary last summer, said he was hopeful that local Iraqi political leaders were now more interested in pursuing political dialogue than fighting each other.
In his speech accepting responsibility for running Basra, Governor Wa'ili said he extended the "hand of friendship" to all the militias in the city, and called on them to lay down their arms.
Welcoming the gesture, Mr Miliband said the future of Iraq needed to be sorted by the Iraqis, not the military.
"This is an opportunity for them to do something positive, and I hope they will take it."
The dramatic drop in violence in Basra since British forces withdrew to the air base last September means that the government will now be able to press ahead with its plans to reduce the 5,000-strong British force by half next year.
dailymail.co.uk
