British forces hand over security responsibility for Basra, final Iraq region under their control

British forces formally handed over responsibility Sunday for the last region in Iraq under their control, marking the start of what Britain hopes will be a transition to a mission aimed at aiding the economy and providing jobs in an oil-rich region beset by militia infighting.

With the handover of Basra, in Iraq's far south, nine of the country's 18 provinces have reverted to Iraqi government control.

The commander of British forces in Basra, Maj. Gen. Graham Binns, said the city had been pulled from the grip of its enemies.

"I now formally hand it back to its friends," Binns said shortly before he added his signature to papers …