They bombed Baghdad a few days early too
U.S. Formally Returns Iraq to Self-Rule Two Days Early
Mon Jun 28, 2004 07:41 AM ET
By Alistair Lyon and Lin Noueihed
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States handed sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government two days earlier than expected Monday, aiming to forestall guerrilla attacks with a surprise ceremony formally ending 14 months of occupation.
Iraq's outgoing U.S. governor Paul Bremer handed a letter to Iraq leaders sealing the formal transfer of powers before flying out of the country. The low-key ceremony was over before it was announced and before ordinary Iraqis were aware of it.
"This is a historic day, a happy day, a day that all Iraqis have been looking forward to," Iraqi President Ghazi Yawar said at the ceremony, which transferred sovereignty at 10:26 a.m. (0626 GMT). "This is the time when we take the country back into the international community."
U.S. and British officials say the handover is a key step on the path to democracy in Iraq, but one of the government's first actions as a sovereign power is expected to be the imposition of emergency laws, including curfews, to crack down on guerrillas.
A senior U.S. official said in Istanbul, site of a NATO summit, that the handover gave Prime Minister Iyad Allawi more leverage and "strengthens his hand to deal with the threats inside his country."
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said in Istanbul the handover had been brought forward to try to thwart insurgents who might have been planning attacks to coincide with the ceremony, long announced for Wednesday.
