Another Iraqi province handed back

Albuquerque Express Thursday 23rd October, 2008

The US military has handed control of security in the province of Babil, to the south of Baghdad, to Iraqi forces.

It is the 12th of Iraq's 18 provinces to be handed back to the Iraqis.

Babil has seen much sectarian violence, including a suicide attack in March last year that left more than 100 Shia pilgrims dead.

Two days ago, clashes between militants and Sunni tribesmen in the mainly Shia province left at least 15 people dead.

Over the years, there have been a high number of attacks against US forces in the area, but these have abated recently due to the presence of Sunni rebels who have joined so-called Awakening Councils to turn against al-Qaeda militants.