By NNN-KUNA
Basra : British troops have handed over security control in the southern Iraqi province of Basra to the Iraqi forces.
The handover took place at a huge ceremony at the Basra Airport Sunday attended by Iraqi National Security Adviser Mouwafak Al-Rubaie, on behalf of the Iraqi Prime Minister, and Basra Governor Mohammed Mosbah Al-Waeli, commander of the British troops in Basra Major General Graham Binns and a host of senior Iraqi and foreign officials.
The handover document was signed by Al-Waeli and Binns, thus, marking the end of almost five years of British existence in southern Iraq.
Britain has been in command of the south since the Iraqi war began in March 2003, with its troops based in Basra.
“The handover (of Basra) means a lot for the Iraqi government, for the province’s heavy political weight and economic importance,” Al-Rubaie said in his address at the ceremony.
The security responsibility has been transferred from the coalition forces to the Iraqi forces, which means that any security will be handled by the Iraqi police,” he added. In case of need, the military will be summoned.
The Iraqi National Security Advisor made it clear that the Iraqi troops would have the right to seek help from the coalition troops, in coordination with Iraqi Premier Nouri Al-Maliki. Any support by the coalition troops would be in what Al-Rubaie called “the prospects” and not in the security process itself.
“Today we stand at a historic juncture and a special day, one of the greatest days in the modern history of Basra,” Al-Waeli said at the ceremony.
The Basra Governor said that he stretched his hands to all the political and religious parties for reconciliation in the city urging the laying down of arms and cooperation with the Iraqi police for security and safety be maintained.
Basra, Iraq’s only harbour, will only have 2,500 British soldiers, out of roughly 5,000 now, by the spring after Britain withdraws half its troops at the airport. The rest of the troops would offer training to the Iraqi forces.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who attended the ceremony together with British Ambassador to Iraq Christopher Prentice, said that the handover was a step forward and that Britain would carry on with its support of the Iraqi government and people.
Binns said that the Iraqi security forces had “proved that they are capable.”
“I came to rid Basra of its enemies but I now formally hand Basra back to its friends,” the British commander said.