The U.S. civil administrator in Iraq (news - web sites) Paul Bremer (R) Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi (C) and the country's most senior judge Midhat Mahmoud (L) read a legal document during the handover of sovereignty ceremony June 28, 2004 in Baghdad. The United States transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government on Monday, formally ending the controversial 14-month occupation two days earlier than expected. REUTERS/Saeed Khan/Pool 
U.S. administrator Paul Bremer (C) flanked by Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi (3rd L) and Bremer's deputy David Richmond (2nd R) and Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar (R), hands a letter to Iraq's most senior judge Midhat Mahmoud (2nd L) sealing the transfer of powers during a ceremony in the capital Baghdad June 28, 2004. The United States transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government on Monday, formally ending the controversial 14-month occupation two days earlier than expected. REUTERS/Ali Jasim 
Former Iraqi Governing Council member Ahmed Chalabi (L) is squeezed aside as well-wishers congratulate President Ghazi al-Yawar (2nd L, at rear) after a swearing-in ceremony in the capital Baghdad June 28, 2004. The United States handed sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government two days earlier than expected Monday, aiming to forestall guerrilla attacks with a secretive ceremony formally ending 14 months of occupation. REUTERS/Faleh Kheiber
U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer, left, shakes hands with Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar, with Bremer's deputy David Richmond, center, during a ceremony marking the transfer of authority to Iraq in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday June 28, 2004. (AP Photo/Ali Jasim/Pool) 
Iraqi people at a barber shop watch TV showing a ceremony transfering national sovereignty to Iraq in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday June 28, 2004.(AP Photo/Samir Mizban)
U.S. Administrator L. Paul Bremer bids farewell as he boards an Air Force plane at Baghdad International Airport for his flight out of Baghdad, Iraq (news - web sites), Monday, June 28, 2004. Earlier Bremer attended a ceremony officially transfering sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government. He was flying to an undisclosed location. (AP Photo/Pauline Lubens/Pool)
U.S. Administrator L. Paul Bremer bids farewell to Iraq as he boards an Air Force plane at Baghdad International Airport for his flight out of Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, June 28, 2004. Earlier Bremer attended a ceremony officially transfering sovereignty to the interim Iraqi government. He was flying to an undisclosed location. (AP Photo/Pauline Lubens/Pool)