Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (L) and U.S. commander in Iraq General George Casey sign the hand over of command agreement at the Ministry of Defence in Baghdad September 7, 2006. The United States handed over formal command of the Iraqi army to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government, a significant step towards the withdrawal of about 150,000 U.S.-led foreign troops. REUTERS/Ali Jasim (IRAQ)