Four Iraqi ministries will gain independence from the US-led coalition on 1 April in a milestone along the road to sovereignty two months later, officials said today.
In addition, US overseer in Iraq Paul Bremer said he would announce the creation of a new defence ministry and a national security committee later this week.
'The process of transferring sovereignty will start at the end of the month by the transfer of power to four ministries: those of education, health, water resources and public works,' said interim public works minister Nasreen Barwari.
'On the 1 April, these ministries will be sovereign and the process will be continued until total sovereignty is established' on 30 June, the date set by the coalition to transfer power to the Iraqis.
The four ministries of a total of 25 were selected because they have compiled the most reconstruction projects since the US-led occupation began.
Elsewhere in Iraq there was further violence today. Gunmen killed the police chief of a village south of the Iraqi capital today a day after eight police cadets were killed in the same region.
Earlier, three civilians were killed in fighting in the town of Falluja after a roadside bomb wounded two US soldiers.
