US administrator Paul Bremer handed power to Chief Justice Midhat Al-Mahmodi

England have

The United States has handed power back to the Iraqi people at alow-keyceremony in Baghdad.

US administrator Paul Bremer transferred sovereignty to an Iraqi judge at a handover brought forward two days in an attempt to prevent the occasion being marked by bloodshed.

Mr Bremer flew out of the country shortly after. His departure ends 15 months of US control in Iraq.

Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, who attended the handover in the city's heavily-guarded "Green Zone", said it was an "historic day" for Iraq.

Mr Allawi's cabinet were sworn in at a later ceremony, also held in secret.

"Anybody who has seen those things that I have will know that Iraq is a much better place." Paul Bremer said.

The new prime minister made a televised address after formally taking office.

He told Iraqis: "I call on our people to stand united to expel the foreign terrorists who are killing our children and destroying our country."

Although power is back in Iraqi hands, US President George Bush said American troops would remain in the country as long as they were needed.

The president added that US presence would also be at the request of the newly-formedinterimgovernment.

Mr Bremer defended his country's reasons for being in Iraq, referring to recently discovered graves where thousands victims of Saddam Hussein's regime are believed to be buried.

The former Coalition Provisional Authority administrator said: "Anybody who has any doubt about whether Iraq is a better place today than it was 14 months ago should go down and see the mass graves in Hilla.

"Anybody who has seen those things that I have will know that Iraq is a much better place."

The power handover was welcomed by world leaders. The European Union and Nato alliance both pledged their support for Mr Allawi's government.

Mr Bush and Mr Blair were apparently the only leaders at the current Nato summit who knew the transfer of sovereignty would take place early.

The news was revealed by Iraqi foreign minister Hoshyar Zebari, speaking after talks with the UK prime minister.

Leaving the Commons will give her more freedom to "speak her mind", she says

Mrs Thatcher's announcement comes seven months after she was ousted from Number 10 by Conservative Party colleagues.

"Making this decision now as far as national politics is concerned makes it quite clear that I have no desire or expectation to go back into Number 10," she said.

She said her decision to leave the Commons would give her more freedom to speak her mind, and made it clear she would fight any European integration that would threaten British sovereignty.

One of her wiser judgements

Labour leader Neil Kinnock


But she was careful to pledge her loyalty to Prime Minister John Major and his government.

Mrs Thatcher insisted there was no lingering bitterness over her departure from Downing Street, and said: "I had the marvellous privilege of being there for 11? nearly 12 years.

"That's nearly half as long again as any American president can be president of the United States."

Labour leader Neil Kinnock described Mrs Thatcher's decision to step down as "one of her wiser judgements".

Predicting a Labour victory at the general election, he said the former prime minister was leaving the Commons because "she doesn't want to face losing her seat or at best going on the opposition benches".

Mr Major said Mrs Thatcher's departure would be a sad loss to the Commons, but added he was sure it would not be the end of her contribution to political life.

low-key:not flashy or intense;understated（低调的）

interim:serving during an intermediate interval of time（临时的；过渡的）