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US hands Anbar over to Iraqi troops

01/09/2008

The United States has relinquished security responsibilities in Anbar province to the Iraqi army.

A formal ceremony to mark the start of the handover took place in the provincial capital Ramadi earlier today as Sunni Muslims marked the start of Ramadan.

Anbar – the 11th of 18 provinces in Iraq, but the first to be populated mainly by Sunni Arabs, to be handed over – was once one of the most lawless regions in the Middle Eastern country.

Two years ago, however, local militia turned their back on al-Qaida to form awakening councils, allowing coalition troops to regain control.

The US still has 28,000 troops in the western desert province, 9,000 down from three months ago.

They will remain at their bases in Anbar and will be on hand to intervene if requested.