Iraqi forces will take over security of a southern province from coalition troops next month, and will have control of most of the country by the end of the year, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Thursday. Maliki's unwavering optimism came on a day when insurgents killed at least 29 people, including 14 people in a car-bomb attack on a popular market in Baghdad, and attacked a British diplomatic convoy. Maliki said Iraqi security forces will take over Dhi Qar Province in September, and will take over control of more provinces during the rest of the year.Dhi Qar will be the second province to come under full Iraqi control after the July handover of the Southern Muthanna Province from British troops. "This year will witness the handing over of other provinces and we hope that by the end of the year, our security forces will take over most of the Iraqi provinces," Maliki said. "This makes us optimistic and proud because we managed to fulfilled our promise. We were able ... to develop the abilities of our forces," he added. "This gives us the feeling that we are close to taking over the whole security file of the country, God willing."
The British Defense Ministry said Britain expects an announcement to be made on the handover of security control of the Iraqi province of Dhi Qar "imminently," adding: "We would expect the handover within 45 days of the announcement."