British begin Basra handover
British forces handed over the Old State building base today
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Tuesday, 20, Mar 2007 02:05
British forces in Iraq have begun the process of handing over their Basra bases to the Iraqi army.
The Old State building in Basra city was handed over to full Iraqi control today - the first multinational forces base to be transferred to the Iraqis in the region.
Two further bases, Shaibah logistics base and the Shaat al-Arab hotel, will also be handed over in the coming months, leaving just the Basra Palace and Basra air station in British control.
It comes on the fourth anniversary of the US-led invasion of the country and is part of a gradual plan to withdraw British troops from southern Iraq, which has generally been spared the same level of insurgent violence as has blighted the Baghdad area.
"True to the coalition campaign plan, and in consultation with my Iraqi colleagues, we are beginning a gradual transition whereby security will be handed over to the Iraqi army and the Iraqi police service," Major General Shaw, the general officer commanding of the multinational force serving in the region, said.
The base will now be under the control of General Habib of the 10th Division Iraqi army and Maj Gen Shaw paid tribute to the division's "courageous performance" in operations in Baghdad
"Our joint goal is for al-Basrah province to achieve provincial Iraqi control, and this is a goal I am sure we all share for al-Basrah," Maj Gen Shaw added.
Lieutenant Bradley Pino, a Platoon Commander who has been based at the Old State building since last November, spoke of the mixed feelings about moving out.
"The only bad thing I feel about leaving is that we're leaving our home," he said.
"We came here and started here and I'd like to finish here but it's a step forward for the Iraqis and I think the locals have put up with us being here and we've provided some security for them but I think the Iraqis will do a better job.
"It's one of those places where they know the area, they know the people and they're ready to take over control of the security in the area - I think they'll do a better job, a different job to what we've been doing here - so I think it's a good thing."
Last month, prime minister Tony Blair confirmed that Britain would reduce its 7,000-strong presence in Iraq by 1,600 in the coming months.
Most UK forces are based in Basra and the Ministry of Defence hopes to be in a position to hand overall security of the Basra region to Iraqis this year.