Marines hand over holy city to Spanish

U.S. Marines handed over yesterday to a Spanish-led force in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf, scene of the country's deadliest postwar bomb attack which killed more than 80 people including a top Shi'ite cleric. At a ceremony in bright sunshine on the outskirts of Najaf, U.S. Marine Brigadier General John Kelly transferred authority to Brigadier General Alfredo Cardona of the Spanish army. “We've spilled blood to hand this province over to you,” Kelly said sombrely in an address to the Spanish-led force, recalling the Marines' key role in the war that ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The transfer had been due to take place weeks ago but was postponed because tensions were high in the city after the car bombing and Latin American soldiers serving with the Spaniards had not received equipment promised by the U.S. military. The August 29 attack by unknown perpetrators outside the golden-domed Imam Ali mosque, one of the most revered sites in Shi'ite Islam, was a powerful symbol of Iraq's postwar instability. But the Najaf area has generally been one of the most peaceful parts of the country since the fall of Saddam, a Suuni Muslim who repressed the Shi'ites who dominate the region. “They viewed our arrival as their liberation,” said Lieutenant Colonel Chris Woodbridge, commander of the Marine battalion responsible for Najaf since April. “We've certainly done everything we can to keep the people in that mindset.” The 1'000-strong force of Spanish, Honduran and Salvadoran troops forms part of a Polish-led division which took over responsibility for the rest of the Marines' sector of south-central Iraq at the beginning of this month.
BURDEN
Washington wants other countries to send soldiers to relieve the burden on its forces. U.S. President George W. Bush is expected to seek new support for the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq in an address to the United Nations General Assembly later yesterday. But many governments do not want to be seen as legitimising the war on Iraq and insist the U.S. cedes more political control of the country before they commit troops. The new troops led by Spain, whose government backed the U.S.-led war on Iraq, will have to tread the same fine line in Najaf as the Marines in trying to provide security while keeping a low profile to avoid offending religious sensibilities. The Marines have helped to train a special local police force to protect the shrine which was being set up but not yet operational when the bombers killed Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer al-Hakim and scores of his followers right after Friday prayers. Commanders hope the new force will help prevent a repeat of the bombing but admit they can give no guarantees. “To prevent some kind of attack 100 percent is not possible for anybody,” Cardona said. “We'll do our best to avoid it.” Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has said that Spain will not be sending any more troops to the region.