Bremer heads home after 14 turbulent months

BAGHDAD, Iraq – L. Paul Bremer’s last day as U.S. administrator of Iraq started as it often did: he arrived at his office Monday inside the heavily guarded Green Zone at 6 a.m., wearing a dark-blue suit and his trademark tan-colored U.S. Army combat boots.

A few hours later, Bremer was climbing the steps of a gray Air Force transport plane, waving goodbye – two days earlier than the world expected – to a country he ruled for 14 months.

Bremer began discussing the possibility of an early transfer 10 days ago with interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. But the two agreed Sunday to go ahead with the sovereignty transfer. Bremer broke the surprise news to his staff at his 8 a.m. meeting with senior advisers from the Coalition Provisional Authority.

Bremer spoke of the CPA’s accomplishments and told his advisers they should be proud of their work. He said he felt strongly that Allawi’s government would succeed.

Bremer then formally dissolved the CPA – the U.S.-led authority that ruled Iraq for 13 months – and said he was leaving the country.

The ceremony took place inside the Green Zone, in an office in the building once used by the former Iraqi Governing Council. About a dozen officials were present. At 10:26 a.m. everyone stood. The two leaders exchanged documents, overseen by Iraq’s chief justice. In that moment, U.S. sovereignty over Iraq was transferred to an Iraqi government.

“As recognized in U.N. security council resolution 1546 … (the CPA) will cease to exist on June 28,” Bremer said. “The Iraqi interim government will assume and exercise full … sovereignty on behalf of the Iraqi people.”