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Iraqi handover 'brought forward'
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Mr Zebari was speaking after talks with the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair in the Turkish city of Istanbul. Mr Blair said a formal announcement would be made later. The BBC's political editor Andrew Marr in Istanbul says the surprise move, which emerged at the start of a Nato summit, is an important symbolic step. Asked about the handover, Mr Blair told reporters: "I'm not actually in a position right at this moment to confirm that, but the important thing is to understand that the will of the whole international community now is with Iraq as it takes control of its own destiny. "We are there to help and support from now on." Mr Zebari did not say exactly when the handover would take place, but it is expected to happen swiftly. Security fears The Iraqi foreign minister's disclosure came as Nato leaders were arriving for the summit in Istanbul, where they are expected to endorse a plan to help train Iraqi security forces. Nato's Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer says the alliance must take action to ensure security is maintained in Iraq after the handover of power. "There is a broad agreement that a stable Iraq is in the interest of all allies," he said. Nato ambassadors, who gathered in Istanbul for talks before the arrival of the heads of government, hammered out a draft agreement to provide training and equipment for Iraq's armed forces. The move followed an urgent request from interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. It is not yet clear when the training operation will begin, nor how many personnel will be involved. The 26-member alliance also looks likely to agree to the expansion of its operations in Afghanistan. |
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