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Iraq in charge of Green Zone on Jan.1st, 2009

BAGHDAD, Dec 30 (KUNA) -- The U.S. military in Iraq said a special ceremony will be held on Thursday, the first day of the Year 2009 marking the handover of the International Zone (Green Zone) to the Iraqi authorities. The U.S. military said in a statement that the transfer ceremony of the International Zone to the Iraqi authorities will be attended by a large number of military commanders, including the official spokesman of the plan to impose law, Major General Qassim Atta, and spokesman for the U.S. Army Major General David Perkins. At the handover ceremony, a number of speeches will be delivered by senior officers of the U.S. and Iraqi army, including chief of the brigade of Baghdad, Brigadier General Imad Yassin Zuheiry and chief of the US 50th Brigade Combat Team, Infantry Colonel Steven Ferrari. It should be noted that delivery of the Green Zone to the Iraqi authorities comes within the framework provided by the security agreement between Baghdad and Washington, according to which the U.S. forces will hand over sovereignty of all areas to the Iraqi authorities through special committees to arrange the transfer of responsibility. (end) aha.ajs KUNA 301701 Dec 08NNNN