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TIKRIT, Iraq (Army News Service, Nov. 23, 2005) -- The Iraqi government took control of Saddam Hussein’s palace complex in Tikrit from U.S. coalition forces during a ceremony Nov. 22 which continued despite a dud round fired by terrorists. Terrorists fired what officials called "unidentified explosive ordnance" that impacted about 300 yards from the ceremony. The projectile failed to explode, and no one was injured in the incident, officials said. The ceremony halted only briefly, they said, and was completed without further disruption. This was the 25th coalition operating base turned over to the people of Iraq so far, officials...

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2005 – In what's being regarded as a highly symbolic development in Iraq, coalition forces will turn over former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's palace in Tikrit to the new Iraqi government during Nov. 22 ceremonies. The sprawling palace complex in Saddam's hometown, 90 miles north of Baghdad, is the largest and most elaborate of his presidential sites, a senior military official in Iraq said today on background. The U.S. Army's 4th Infantry Division initially secured the complex in 2003, dubbing it Camp Iron Horse. The camp served as the division's headquarters when its members captured Saddam in...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOB DANGER TO BE TURNED OVER TO IRAQI GOVERNMENT TIKRIT, Iraq — Multi-National Forces will turn over control of the former Saddam Hussein Palace Complex here to Iraqi government officials in a ceremony in Tikrit Nov. 22. “The planned turnover of the complex to the Iraqi Ministry of Finance and the provincial government will be a landmark event highlighting the increased capability of the Iraqi government to administer and govern itself,” said Col. Billy J. Buckner, Multi-National Corps-Iraq spokesman. The Tikrit complex consists of more than 1000 acres of land situated on a high bluff overlooking the...