Iraq takes control of Babil from US forces

Iraqi forces took control of the central Shiite province of Babil, the 12th of Iraq's 18 provinces to be handed over by American troops to Baghdad.

Iraqi forces on Thursday took control of the central Shiite province of Babil, the 12th of Iraq's 18 provinces to be handed over by American troops to Baghdad, an AFP correspondent reported.

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The transfer ceremony began with the reading of verses from the Koran in Hilla, the capital of Babil.

Several senior US and Iraqi officials were present at the ceremony, including Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin, the number two commander of US forces in Iraq, and Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, Iraq's national security advisor.