SAMAWA (Iraq), July 13: Iraqis on Thursday took charge of security in the southern province of Muthanna, replacing British and Australian forces in the first such transfer of responsibility in Iraq, even as violence continued elsewhere.

“I warn you that the terrorists will do their utmost to make this experiment fail, but we promise that we will stand beside you and give you all the support you need,” Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told provincial governor Mohammed Ali al-Hassani at the handover.

Speaking during a ceremony featuring dancing tribesmen and displays of martial prowess from local security forces, Hassani said “the transfer of security will make the Iraqi people understand that the occupation will end.”

Coalition forces will, however, remain in the province but will be pulled out of urban areas and largely assume a supporting and advisory role.

The transfer means that the governor will maintain security with provincial police forces and can call for help from central government, which remains in command of army and national police forces located in the province.

Aside from Basra, most southern provinces are considered fairly stable and several are slated for security handovers in the next few months — though coalition force officials admit that immediately following the handovers security may decline as insurgents test the system.—AFP