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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Najaf handed to Iraqis' control | Najaf handed to Iraqis' control |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The US military has handed over security of Iraq's Najaf province, south of the capital Baghdad, to government forces. | The US military has handed over security of Iraq's Najaf province, south of the capital Baghdad, to government forces. |
| Najaf is the third province to come under Iraqi security control. | Najaf is the third province to come under Iraqi security control. |
| The handover occurred as the new US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Iraq two days after taking office. | The handover occurred as the new US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Iraq two days after taking office. |
| Mr Gates is meeting military commanders and Iraqi politicians to get advice on a new policy for the country that President George W Bush is formulating. | Mr Gates is meeting military commanders and Iraqi politicians to get advice on a new policy for the country that President George W Bush is formulating. |
| 'Growing capability' | 'Growing capability' |
| The handover ceremony took place under heavy security in a stadium in the city of Najaf, the province's capital. | The handover ceremony took place under heavy security in a stadium in the city of Najaf, the province's capital. |
| The senior US commander present, Maj Gen Kurt Cichowski, said the handover was a sign of the growing capability of Iraq's security forces. | The senior US commander present, Maj Gen Kurt Cichowski, said the handover was a sign of the growing capability of Iraq's security forces. |
| But Iraq's national security adviser, Mouwaffaq al-Rubaie, sounded a note of caution. | |
| "If we don't handle the responsibility, history will destroy us," he said. | "If we don't handle the responsibility, history will destroy us," he said. |
| If we don't handle the responsibility, history will destroy us Iraq's national security advisor Mouwaffaq al-Rubaie | If we don't handle the responsibility, history will destroy us Iraq's national security advisor Mouwaffaq al-Rubaie |
| British forces handed over Muthana province in the south in July and Dhi Qar province was transferred to Iraqi control in September. | British forces handed over Muthana province in the south in July and Dhi Qar province was transferred to Iraqi control in September. |
| The UK wants to hand over Basra province in the first half of 2007. | The UK wants to hand over Basra province in the first half of 2007. |
| As the ceremony was taking place, Mr Gates arrived in Baghdad to examine in person the options facing the US in Iraq. | As the ceremony was taking place, Mr Gates arrived in Baghdad to examine in person the options facing the US in Iraq. |
| Military over-stretch | Military over-stretch |
| The visit comes as the White House confirmed that Mr Bush was thinking about increasing the numbers of US troops in Iraq. | The visit comes as the White House confirmed that Mr Bush was thinking about increasing the numbers of US troops in Iraq. |
| Mr Bush said the current military is being stretched too thinMr Bush also told the Washington Post newspaper that the US might need a larger military to deal with the broader, long-term fight against terrorism. | Mr Bush said the current military is being stretched too thinMr Bush also told the Washington Post newspaper that the US might need a larger military to deal with the broader, long-term fight against terrorism. |
| Mr Gates has been asked to assess both ideas. | Mr Gates has been asked to assess both ideas. |
| The president said he agreed with Pentagon and Capitol Hill officials that the military is being stretched too thin. | The president said he agreed with Pentagon and Capitol Hill officials that the military is being stretched too thin. |
| The US currently has about 140,000 troops in Iraq. | The US currently has about 140,000 troops in Iraq. |
| Increasing violence | Increasing violence |
| Mr Bush said he has not yet made a decision about a new strategy for Iraq, which he is expected to announce next month. | Mr Bush said he has not yet made a decision about a new strategy for Iraq, which he is expected to announce next month. |
| Attacks on US and Iraqi troops and civilians reached their highest level since power was handed over to an interim Iraqi government in June 2004, a Pentagon report said on Monday. | Attacks on US and Iraqi troops and civilians reached their highest level since power was handed over to an interim Iraqi government in June 2004, a Pentagon report said on Monday. |
| It said the worst violence was in Baghdad and the western province of Anbar, long the focus of activity by Sunni insurgents. | It said the worst violence was in Baghdad and the western province of Anbar, long the focus of activity by Sunni insurgents. |
| The report came just hours after the new defence secretary said failure in Iraq would be a "calamity" that would haunt the US for many years. | The report came just hours after the new defence secretary said failure in Iraq would be a "calamity" that would haunt the US for many years. |