This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/5366270.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Power handover in Iraqi province Power handover in Iraqi province
(20 minutes later)

/> 		UK and Italian forces in southern Iraq have handed over security control of the province of Dhi Qar.
It is the second of 18 provinces to be handed over, after a similar move in neighbouring Muthanna in July.
Dhi Qar is one of the country's less troubled provinces, and has been in the British area of control since 2003.
But the handover is not the signal for a reduction in the overall coalition troop levels in Iraq, which remain high as the civilian death toll climbs.
Although Dhi Qar has been in the British zone, some 1,800 Italian troops have been doing a lot of the security work there, including training thousands of Iraqi police and army forces.
The handover means the Italians will be free to return home next month.
Backup plan
Although the Iraqis will be taking over security responsibility for Dhi Qar province, British troops will retain what they are calling "operational over-watch".
There will not be any reduction in British troop levels, currently running at just over 7,000.
They are still fully engaged in the more troubled regional capital, Basra, where the situation has been worsening in recent months.
There is no indication when some of Iraq's other provinces may follow suit and be handed over.
Iraqi civilian deaths are reaching unprecedented levels - the UN says more than 6,500 were killed in July and August alone.
US military commanders have said they expect to have to keep their own troops at their current high levels of over a 140,000 through next spring, far longer than they had hoped.