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U.S. returns sovereignty to Iraq

Jun-28-2004 » Filed Under: Iraq News

CNN provides a summary of today's transer of power.

[Link to Full Article]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's interim government was sworn in Monday after the United States returned sovereignty to the nation two days ahead of schedule.

The official handover of sovereignty occurred at 10:26 a.m. (2:26 a.m. ET), when former coalition civil administrator L. Paul Bremer gave interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi a leather-bound transfer document. [...]

During a swearing-in ceremony shortly after the handover, Allawi and other members of the new government placed their hands on the Koran and promised to serve with sincerity and impartiality. Iraqi flags lined the wall behind them.

Allawi called national unity "a sacred duty" and called for the international community, including Arab nations, "to work together to handle problems in the area in a civilized manner."

"We will not forget who stood by and against us," Allawi said at the swearing-in ceremony, a clear warning to insurgents trying to topple the government.

But, he said, "the transformation from dictatorship to civil society" is "a major task" likely to take many years.


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