BASRA (Thomson Financial) - Iraq formally took security control of the southern oil province of Basra from British forces on Sunday, paving the way for Britain to sharply reduce its nearly 5,000-strong troop presence.
'The handover means victory for Iraq and defeat to its enemies,' Iraq's national security adviser Muwaffaq al-Rubaie said at the handover ceremony.
'This achievement is one of the main achievements of the national unity government. It has come after sacrifices and direct support from our sons and all Iraqis. Our biggest challenge is to maintain the security in Basra.'
Basra, the ninth of Iraq's 18 provinces to be returned to local control by the US-led coalition, is the fourth and final province under British control since the 2003 invasion to be transferred.
The ceremony saw Iraq showcasing its military equipment as soldiers paraded in front of a palace of the executed dictator Saddam Hussein.
Iraqi forces were heavily deployed in Basra to thwart any insurgent attacks, while helicopters patrolled the skies, an Agence France-Presse correspondent said.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband hailed the transfer as 'a major step forward.'
'It is a testament to the growing capacity of the Iraqi security forces, and to Iraqi readiness to step up and assume responsibility,' he said. 'I want Iraqis to know... Britain remains a committed friend.'
In a statement issued in London, Defence Secretary Des Browne said the transfer of Basra to Iraqi control was a 'tribute' to British forces who have lost at least 174 dead since 2003.
'But we are not yet at the end of the road. Our role in Basra is changing to one of overwatch but our commitment to Iraq is undimmed,' he said.
US officials in Baghdad also welcomed the handover but warned that more needs to be done.
'The provincial and military leadership in Basra still have work to do and we will assist as requested,' said a joint statement by the US charge d'affaires in Baghdad, Patricia Butenis, and General David Petraeus, head of coalition forces in Iraq.
The almost exclusively Shiite city of 1.7 mln people has been riven by rivalries between Shiite militias, but a feared explosion of violence once British troops pulled back has failed to materialise. tf.TFN-Europe_newsdesk@thomson.com hjp COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Financial News Limited 2007. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Thomson Financial News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Financial News.