IU reacts to Iraq handover

The U.S.-led coalition handed over power Monday in Iraq to an interim Iraqi government two days ahead of the scheduled June 30 deadline in a move that caught many off guard. \nIn a stealthy ceremony within the heavily fortified green zone in central Baghdad, the former Coalition Provisional Administration administer of Iraq, Paul Bremer, formally handed over responsibility of governing Iraq to Iraq's Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and his interim administration. \nDina Spechler, associate professor of political science, said the change of the handover date was not publicly announced due to security concerns in the country. \n"It was a move made for security reasons because the concern is that if you do the handover on a prearranged date, you are exposing everyone to danger," Spechler said.\nIraqi insurgent fighters and foreign extremists have led a 15-month insurgency that has troubled coalition forces since Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled in April 2003. The insurgents have often targeted Iraqi officials cooperating with the coalition forces. \nA few hours after the handover ceremony, Bremer boarded a plane and flew out of Iraq. But U.S. and coalition forces will remain in the country at the invitation of the interim government.\nGraduate student Lamont Black said it is necessary for U.S. forces to remain in the country and assist Iraqi security forces in combating the insurgency. \n"The reason for not having an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops is to have them participate in trying to provide security," Black said.\nAllawi's interim government will have control over Iraqi police and security forces, who will coordinate security in the country with coalition forces. The interim government is tasked with improving security in the country while at the same time preparing for elections by January 2005 to select members of a national assembly that will compose a new constitution for Iraq.\nAlong with the restoration of sovereignty, the United States has transferred legal custody of Hussein to the interim government. The former Iraqi leader will continue to be held at a U.S. administered detention center in Iraq but will be under the jurisdiction of an Iraqi tribunal that will try him and several other captured ranking leaders of the former regime on charges of crimes against humanity and aggression against neighboring states.\nSaddam Hussein will hear charges against him today in an Iraqi court, but it is expected that his trial will not begin for several months.\nGraduate student Bejamin Stewart said Saddam Hussein's trial would be an important demonstration of the interim government's legitimacy.\n"It is incredibly important that Iraq as a sovereign country proceed (with the trial)," Stewart said. "If they can make this work, if they can do it fairly and arrive at a verdict in a just fashion, it would be a great start for a sovereign country and a foundation for their future democracy and maybe their success."\n-- Contact Nation and World Editor Rami Chami at rchami@indiana.edu.