BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhuanet) -- The international community on Monday welcomed the early transfer of Iraq's sovereignty from the US-led coalition authorities to the interim Iraqi government.

    US President George W. Bush hailed the handover, saying it is a"great news for the Iraqi people," a senior US official said on condition of anonymity.

    "This demonstrates that there is confidence, there is a new Iraqi government that is able and willing to fight" against insurgents and terrorists, the official said.

    Cristina Gallach, a spokesman for the European Union (EU), said the EU wants to "establish contact with the new (Iraqi government)as soon as possible," noting that it would offer support for Iraq's general elections scheduled for January 2005.

    Leaders attending a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Turkey's Istanbul agreed to offer assistance in helping train Iraq's security forces.

    "In response to the request of the Iraqi Interim Government, and in accordance with (United Nations Security Council) Resolution 1546 which requests international and regional organizations to contribute assistance to the Multinational Force,we have decided today to offer NATO's assistance to the government of Iraq with the training of its security forces," NATO leaders said in a statement issued at the end of a morning session of the two-day summit meeting.

    "We therefore also encourage nations to contribute to the training of the Iraqi armed forces," it added.

    In Japan, one of the staunchest allies of the Untied States, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hosoda Hiroyuki told a press conference that he welcomed the handover, saying his government would formally recognize the interim government on Tuesday.

    Hiroyuki hoped "the political process in Iraq will make progress steadily," noting his country is willing to provide humanitarian assistance to Iraq.

    In Australia, another ally of Washington, Prime Minister John Howard congratulated the Iraqi people on the return of sovereignty,saying the handover was "historic."

    He also stressed the importance that the "multinational force remain to assist the Iraqi security forces."

    Australian Defense Minister Robert Hill said the Australian troops in Iraq will continue to "undertake their duties with operational control passing from the current United States-led command to the new multinational force" after the handover.

    In Poland, Deputy Defense Minister Janusz Zemke described in a statement the handover as "a good thing."

    Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo also congratulatedthe Iraqis on the handover.

    "We laud the restoration of the democratic process in Iraq. We join the Iraqi people in their yearning for peace," Arroyo's spokesman said in a brief statement.

    In Russia, one of the staunchest opponents to the US-led war against Iraq, Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov told Itar-Tass that Russia is willing to develop relations with the Iraqi interimgovernment.

    "We are open to developing contacts and communication with the new Iraqi authorities," he was quoted as saying. "Iraq's interim government has received a certain credit of trust from the international community, including from the UN Security Council."

    He hoped that stability would be restored in Iraq as soon as possible for the resumption of economic and trade cooperation between Russia and Iraq.

    French President Jacques Chirac, another opponent to the Iraq war, has "taken note" of the early transfer of sovereignty in Iraq,said presidential spokeswoman Catherine Colonna.

    "The transfer of sovereignty is a highly awaited and important event," she said, but adding that more steps must follow to achieve every success in rebuilding the war-devastated country.

    Antje Leendertse, deputy spokeswoman for the German Foreign Ministry, said the government, which sided with Russia and France against the Iraq war, also welcomed the handover, describing it as"an important step on the road back into the community of independent nations."

    The German government is ready "to work closely together with the new Iraqi government on the political and economic reconstruction of the country," she said.

    German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has also sent a congratulatory message to Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi,saying Germany would "collaborate with full confidence" with the Iraqi interim government, said Hans-Hermann Langguth, a deputy government spokesman.

    In Iraq's neighboring country Jordan, government spokeswoman Asma Khader said the handover raised hope for Iraq's stability.

    The Jordanian government considered the handover as "a step toward rebuilding political, economic, security and social institutions in Iraq," she said.

    The Iranian government spokesman Abodollah Ramazanzadeh gave a cautious welcome to the handover, hoping the transfer will "lead to a government based on the opinion of the Iraqi people."

    "We welcome any move that will give sovereignty back to the majority of the Iraqi people and ends the occupation of our neighbor," the spokesman said.

    The US-led coalition authorities transferred sovereignty to theIraqi interim government Monday morning, two days ahead of the originally scheduled date, in a surprising move to wrong-foot insurgents who threatened to torpedo the power handover process. Enditem