US hands over chunk of Iraq to Polish control

Poland has taken over control of a large swathe of central Iraq from US Marines. The handover ceremony took place at Camp Babylon in Hilla, the nerve centre of Poland's contribution to the international force in Iraq. It is part of Washington's efforts to ease the burden on its own troops who are dying almost daily in guerrilla attacks. Poland was one of the USA's staunchest supporters before the war and has seen its loyalty rewarded. Almost 10,000 soldiers drawn from 21 countries are being deployed in the south-central zone. Poland is the biggest non-US contributor in the area, with 2,400 soldiers. Spain and Ukraine also have large contingents.