Naseer Al-Nahr, Arab News

BAGHDAD, 29 June 2004 — The United States transferred sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government two days early yesterday in a surprise move that apparently caught rebel fighters off guard, averting a feared campaign of attacks to sabotage the historic step toward self-rule. Legal documents transferring sovereignty were handed over by US overseer Paul Bremer to Chief Justice Midhat Mahmoud at a simple ceremony in the heavily guarded Green Zone. Bremer took charge in Iraq about a year ago.

“This is a historic day ... a day that all Iraqis have been looking forward to,” said Iraqi President Ghazi Al-Yawar. “This is a day we are going to take our country back into the international forum.”

Rebels had conducted a campaign of car bombings, kidnappings and other violence that killed hundreds of Iraqis in recent weeks and was designed to disrupt the transfer, announced late last year by US President George W. Bush’s administration. Initially, the Americans were thought to have planned for about one more year of occupation.

The response in Baghdad was mixed. “Iraqis are happy inside, but their happiness is marred by fear and melancholy,” said artist Qassim Al-Sabti. “Of course, I feel I’m still occupied. You can’t find anywhere in the world people who would accept occupation. America these days is like death. Nobody can escape from it.”

Two hours after the ceremony, Bremer left Iraq on a US Air Force C-130 plane, said Robert Tappan, an official of the former coalition occupation authority. Bremer was accompanied by coalition spokesman Dan Senor and close members of his staff. Bremer’s destination was not given, but an aide said he was “going home.”

The new US ambassador to Iraq, John Negroponte, arrived in the Iraqi capital late yesterday, a US official said on condition of anonymity.

The new interim government was sworn in six hours after the handover ceremony, which Western governments largely hailed as a necessary next step. The Arab world voiced cautious optimism but maintained calls for the US military to leave the country quickly.

Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi delivered a sweeping speech sketching out some of his goals for the country, urging people not to be afraid of the “outlaws” fighting against “Islam and Muslims” and assuring them that “God is with us.”

“I warn the forces of terror once again,” he said. “We will not forget who stood with us and against us in this crisis.”

Members of Allawi’s Cabinet each stepped forward to place their right hand on the Qur’an and pledged to accept their new duties with sincerity and impartiality. Behind them, a bank of Iraqi flags lined the podium.

“Before us is a challenge and a burden, and we ask God Almighty to give us the patience and guide us to take this country whose people deserve all goodness,” Yawar said after taking his oath. “May God protect Iraq and its citizens.”

Bush marked the transfer with a whispered comment and a handshake with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, gathered with world leaders around a table at a NATO summit in Istanbul, Turkey.

Stealing a glance at his watch to make sure the transfer had occurred, Bush put his hand over his mouth to guard his remarks, leaned toward Blair and then reached out to shake hands. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, a row behind the president, beamed.

Bush was briefed Sunday that the Allawi government was ready to take power early.

The early transfer had been under discussion between Allawi and US officials for at least a week, a senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Bremer’s last moments in Iraq were spent in a meeting with Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the top American commander in the country.

Although the interim government will have full sovereignty, it will operate under major restrictions.

For example, the interim government will only hold power seven months until, as directed by a United Nations Security Council resolution, there must be elections “in no case later than” Jan. 31.

The Americans will still hold responsibility for security. And the interim government will not be able to amend the interim constitution. That document outlines many civil liberties guarantees that would make a declaration of emergency problematic.

As Iraq’s highest authority, Bremer had issued more than 100 orders and regulations, many of them Western-style laws governing everything from bankruptcy and traffic to restrictions on child labor and copying movies.

— Additional input from agencies