US hands province to Iraqi forces

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Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin: 'This represents the beginning of a very promising future'

Iraqi authorities have taken over responsibility for security in another province from US military forces.

Wasit, bordering Iran in the east of the country, is the 13th of Iraq's 18 provinces to be transferred.

Washington and Baghdad are still negotiating the terms of a draft agreement covering the long-term presence of US troops in Iraq.

The Status of Forces Agreement aims to allow US forces to stay in Iraq after their UN mandate ends in December.

The transfer of Wasit took place at a ceremony in the provincial capital of Kut, south of Baghdad.

See map showing Iraqi-controlled provinces

Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffak al-Rubaie, said Wasit had achieved a level of efficiency and ability in civil and security matters.

He also announced that Baghdad would take control "within weeks" of the northern province of Kirkuk (Tamim) and the neighbouring province of Salahuddin.

The transfer of Wasit comes within a week of the return of nearby Babil province to the Iraqis.

Insurgents' route

US forces which remain in the province will now stay in their bases and only take part in security operations at the request of the provincial governor.

Lt Gen Lloyd Austin, second-in-command of US forces in Iraq, said Wasit was once a route for insurgents targeting Iraqi and coalition forces.

"Until seven months back, Wasit saw 16-18 attacks each week," he said.

"Now the province has frequently reached zero attacks largely due to a high level of co-operation between all security units."

Wasit has a 200km (125 mile) border with Iran and the US military has previously accused Iranian groups sympathetic to militants of smuggling weapons into Iraq through the province.

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