(29 Sep 2005) SHOTLIST
1. Various of handover ceremony as British troops hand over security to Iraqi forces, Iraqi soldiers marching
2. Various of British officer handing over security mandate to Iraqi officer, they sign the paperwork and shake hands
3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Major Mick Aston, British Army
"It's a real sign of progress, of the increasing capability of the 2nd Battalion, it will allow them to bring more troops here and allow us to get back up to al-Shue'ba, although we'll still be able to achieve the same level of support that we've been giving the police and the army from up in al-Shue'ba here in (inaudible)."
4. Various of British soldiers marching
5. Iraqi soldiers
6. Various of British soldiers drilling
7. Mid shot British soldier
8. Various of troops being inspected during handover ceremony
9. Various of troops standing to attention as bugle sounds and British army flag is taken down and Iraqi flag hoisted
10. Close up Iraqi flag
STORYLINE:
The British Army handed over its main base in Basra in southern Iraq on Thursday, giving Iraqis control of the city.
The British battalion transferred security to the Iraqi army at the base, and relocated to al-Shue'ba military base 30 kilometres southwest of Basra.
But British forces will still be available to assist in the event of a major security crisis.
Basra is the third southern city to be handed over to Iraqi forces in the space of a month.
On Wednesday the US army had handed over security in Karbala to Iraqi troops.
And Najaf was handed to Iraqi troops three weeks ago.
The US-led coalition plans to hand back control of other cities to Iraqi forces, and gradually reduce its security presence.
Basra was the scene of recent tension between the British Army and the militia of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
Rioting broke out in Basra after British armoured vehicles and troops on September 19 encircled a jail where two British soldiers had been taken after being arrested by Iraqi police, and then stormed the jail to rescue the men.
The men had been arrested for allegedly shooting at Iraqi security forces and locals.
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