Basra handover to Iraq on Sunday

Basra: British forces will be handing back control of Basra's security to Iraqi forces on Sunday, a government spokesman said.

The government spokesman announced that "the handover would go ahead on the 16th of this month".

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also said during a surprise visit to Iraq last week that handover would be done in two weeks.

British Major Mike Shearer hailed the handover date as a "very positive step in the right direction".

"I am absolutely confident...that the Iraqi security forces here in Basra are ready to take on responsibility for policing their own streets," Shearer told BBC Radio.

Britain aims to reduce its 4,500 troops in Iraq to 2,500 by next year.