IRAQ HANDOVER 'TODAY' (Sovereignty Transfered in surprise move!) Congratulations IRAQ!

Sky News ^ | 6/28/2004

[Southack]

Update:

IRAQ HANDOVER 'TODAY'

The handover of power in Iraq is to be brought forward to today.

A formal announcement will be made later today, Tony Blair said.

The informal announcement was made by Iraq's foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari.

The handover of power to an interim Iraqi government was supposed to take place on June 30.

Mr Zebari said the deteriorating security situation in the country was one of the reasons why the date had been brought forward.

"We will challenge these elements in Iraq, the anti-democratic elements, by even bringing the handover of sovereignty before June 30 as a sign we are ready for it," he said.

He added: "We have made some very good progress in terms of the new security council (in Iraq) and the return of sovereignty to the Iraqi people to take away the level of occupation we have suffered a great deal from.

"There are many Iraqis who are standing up to the challenge. We are here to seek more help and assistance, training and equipment."

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Posted on 06/27/2004 10:50:49 PM PDT by Southack

And you said :

Was on the bottom of the FOX news ticker 1 minute ago!!!!:-)

122 posted on 06/27/2004 11:28:33 PM PDT by Defender2

So it seems a 40 minute time lag, while Fox was doing what... checking validity?

[DoctorZIn]

NYTIMES
http://www.nytimes.com/

[Admin Moderator]

Reuters, behind the eight ball as usual ;)

[nopardons]

Holy cow!

[conshack]

I usually do watch FOX, just turned to CNN to see if there was any updates I could catch, and almoast fell out of my chair with shock when the garganteous weather lader walked on screen.


CNN is working with a much lower budget these days since they have too little a viewership.

[dc-zoo]

I think you're right on target. How predictable they are at CNN.

[VanZant]

The Kurdish foreign minister let the cat out of the bag--he wasn't supposed to (per the BBC). I suspect the terrorists are feverishly moving up their attacks.

[balk]

Right about now, the hosts are getting their 2:30 am phonecall...

-from CNN's TV schedule for today...

---

6:00 a.m. Eastern

Countdown to Handover: Anderson Cooper is live in Baghdad days before the U.S. handover for an in-depth look at the future of the country.

---

[BigWaveBetty]

The Demonrats are sure to "talk down" the turnover.

Can't wait to see Kerry make this sound like a bad thing.

[txhurl]

You know, 30 minutes ago I watched Kissinger explain it all for us dolts and was thinking... what's he doing up so late, live on FNC?

[Southack]

Iraqi handover 'brought forward'

Mr Zebari spoke after talks with Mr Blair

The handover of sovereignty to Iraq is being brought forward from 30 June to Monday, Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has said.

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.

[RIGHT IN LAS VEGAS]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

[Mockingbird For Short]

Does anyone know what Bush's itinerary was to be?

[baseballmom]

So this is what happens when I can't sleep. Good news.

[woofie]

News Flash : It is yesterday in China

[BigWaveBetty]

Hey kiddo! Kewl news, eh? :-)

[dc-zoo]

No more panties on heads. Real ass-kickin now.

[luvbach1]

Please continue to be careful, friend.

[LADY J]

Is that you on your FR page? I must say - you are beautiful. Plus brains to do what you are doing is so impressive!!

Stay safe. God bless you and keep you under His care.

[JLS]

I too noticed he would be in the area. Then after second thought, I wondered if to avoid the new government being seen even more around the world as a puppet government of G.W. Bush, if it would be much much better for him not to show up for this transfer?