US hands over last Iraqi detention centre

The United States military has handed over control of its last remaining detention centre in Iraq, as the US increases the pace of its military withdrawal from the country.

The Iraqi authorities will take charge of 1,600 of the 1,800 detainees at Camp Cropper, near Baghdad's airport.

The US military has been asked to hold the remainder, some of them alleged members of al-Qaida in Iraq.

US Major General Jerry Cannon talked about the timing of the handover, which was marked by a ceremony at which he officiated with Iraqi Minister of Justice Dara Noor al-Deen.