U.S. Marines hand over control to Poles

BABYLON, Iraq -- The United States, eager to share security duties in Iraq, handed military control over a large swath of the country to a Polish commander Wednesday during a ceremony in the ruins of an amphitheater built by Alexander the Great.

In Najaf, the brother of slain Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim said Shiite Muslims would not take up arms against the U.S.-led occupation force, but suggested his Badr Brigade had been rearmed -- in defiance of American orders -- to "defend ourselves."

Abdel-Aziz al-Hakim, a member of the U.S.-picked Governing Council, also said it still was not known who was behind the car bombing that killed the ayatollah and between 85 and 125 others at the close of Friday prayers in Najaf.

Al-Hakim, who succeeded his brother as chief of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, blamed the attack "on enemies of Iraq," saying they were followers of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein. Police have said some Iraqis and foreigners with admitted ties to the al-Qaida terror network have been arrested in connection with the blast.

Asked if the Badr Brigade, the armed wing of the Supreme Council, was back in operation, al-Hakim said: "The Badr Brigade is more and more organized and will defend Iraqi interests and will share in the rebuilding of Iraq.

"If the allied forces are unable to take actions against such crimes, we will defend ourselves," al-Hakim said. U.S. troops ordered the brigade disarmed and disbanded early in the occupation.

Military control was passed to the Poles in a 31,000-square mile belt of Iraq south of Baghdad.

However, Secretary of State Colin Powell said the area in and around Najaf, the holiest Shiite city in Iraq, will be turned over "once things settle down a little bit."

Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, commander of coalition forces in Iraq, said Marines would be needed in Najaf for at least two more weeks. He said the Americans would review the situation in mid-month, and hoped then to hand the city over to a Spanish brigade from the international force.

"It's absolutely clear to a military commander that the most vulnerable period is when he is in a period of transition," Sanchez told reporters. "We will reassess the situation in about two weeks."

The Polish military is leading the 9,500-strong international force that includes troops from 21 countries. In addition to U.S. and British forces, there already were small forces from seven other nations.

"It's indeed a historic moment. It's a moment where the international community has stepped up and turned a nine-nation coalition into a 30-nation coalition which sends an unmistakable message," Sanchez told dozens of troops at the ceremony in the amphitheater near the ancient city of Babylon.

Seventeen countries are providing soldiers to the international force for the south-central part of the country. Four other countries are providing logistical support.

Maj. Gen. Andrzej Tyszkiewicz, commander of the international force, said his soldiers will not be occupiers.

"Even though we have different uniforms and different flags, we are unified by one purpose. That purpose is to help the Iraqi people wipe out the traces of Saddam Hussein's monstrous dictatorship and build a new basis of peaceful existence."

Also Wednesday, acting Baghdad police chief Hassan al-Obeidi said he did not believe he was the target of a car bombing at police headquarters a day earlier. One policeman was killed and at least 13 others were wounded.

"The explosion was far from my office. I don't think I was the target," al-Obeidi said. "We will catch whoever did this and punishment will be harsh." He said FBI agents were helping the investigation.

Al-Obeidi was installed in his job by former New York City police commissioner Bernard Kerik, who has been rebuilding the Iraqi police force.