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Iraq handover of sovereignty advanced to June 28
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-06-28 14:59

Iraq's interim government will take control of the country on Monday, two days earlier than the scheduled handover of sovereignty from the U.S.-led occupying power, sources said.

Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told reporters on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Istanbul that the formal handover to an interim government could be advanced from the planned date of June 30.

A source in the U.S.-led coalition in Baghdad said it would take place on Monday.

Zebari, speaking after meeting British Prime Minister Tony Blair, did not say how far the date would be brought forward.

Blair declined to confirm the date change, but told reporters: "The important thing is that from now on Iraq controls its own destiny."

The 26 NATO nations were due to offer security forces training on Monday to the interim Baghdad government.

"I believe that we will challenge these terrorists, criminals, Saddamists and anti-democratic forces by bringing even the date of the handover forward," Zebari said.

Militants have kidnapped a U.S. Marine, a Pakistani driver and three Turkish civilian workers and threatened to behead them during the run-up to the handover of power, which had been scheduled for Wednesday.

"After June 30, it will be up to us to run our country and to manage our security," Zebari said. "It will be an acid test of our country and our future."



 
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