U.S. BEGINS TO HAND OVER COMMAND TO IRAQI FORCES

BAGHDAD [MENL] -- The U.S. military has begun to transfer authority to Iraqi security forces.

Officials said the U.S.-led coalition has been quietly handing over the command to Iraq's military and security units in the four most violent provinces in the country. Fourteen of the 18 provinces have already been under Iraqi security control.

In the latest move, the U.S. military has transferred control to the Iraq Army in Baghdad. The U.S. Army's First Cavalry Division has handed over authority in several areas to Baghdad to the Iraq Army's 40th Brigade.

"We have reached a certain stage," Iraqi Brig. Gen. Jalil Khalaf said at the handover ceremony on Feb. 21. "The Americans are very accurate. They saw that we reached a certain stage in advanced training and in [the ability to] take over responsibilities."