BASRA, Iraq, Sept 3 (Reuters) - British forces completed their withdrawal from the southern city of Basra on Monday and handed over their former city centre base to the Iraqi army, an Iraqi security commander said.

"At 4.30 this morning the British forces completed their withdrawal from the presidency palace and the Iraqi army took responsibility for protecting the palace," Major-General Mohan al-Firaiji, commander of Iraqi security operations in Basra, told reporters.

AlertNet news is provided by