United States Hands Control of the Green Zone to Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki speaks inside the former palace of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, the Republican Palace, inside the Green Zone in Baghdad during a handover ceremony of the Green Zone from U.S forces to Iraqi authorities in Baghdad on January 1, 2009. Iraqi President Nouri al-Maliki said the handover symbolized the restoration of Iraqi sovereignty. (UPI photo/Ali Jasim)