Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- General Ray Odierno, the new commander of U.S.-led troops in Iraq said Tuesday that gains in the country are "fragile and reversible."

    In a ceremony held at a former Saddam Hussein palace turned U.S. military base near Baghdad airport, Odierno warned of tough task ahead despite relative lull of violence partially attributed to a U.S. military "surge" strategy.

    "Iraq is now a different country from the one I had seen first," Odierno said during the ceremony of taking over command from the outgoing top U.S,- led troops commander General David Petraeus.

    However, Odierno warned "we must realize that these gains are fragile and reversible."

    Odierno told the gathering at the ceremony that the U.S. troops have much to accomplish here, and the Iraqis must take charge, saying "this struggle is theirs to win."

    Odierno also stressed on the necessity of holding provincial election which is widely seen by U.S. officials as vital for national reconciliation. The election would give those who boycotted the last election in 2005 a fair chance to share power in their regions.

    For his part, Petraeus thanked his troops and described Odierno as "the perfect man for the job."

    The handover ceremony was presided over by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates who paid a surprise visit to Baghdad on Monday.

    The ceremony was also attended by dozens of Iraqi government officials and senior military officers.

    "We will still be engaged as we are, but the areas in which we are engaged will continue to narrow," Gates said.

    Gates pointed out the challenges that Odierno would face is how to deal with Iraqis to safeguard the gains that have been accomplished, and to depend on Iraqis more as the number of U.S. forces are decreased.

    The handover comes as Washington is facing a challenge of shrinking its forces in Iraq and hand over the rein to Iraqi forces without leaving behind a security void.

    Last week, U.S. President George W. Bush said that he will withdraw some 8,000 U.S. troops from Iraq earlier next year, leaving about 138,000 deployed in the war-torn country.

    However, deadly attacks in the past 24 hours gave Odierno a powerful reminder of hard task ahead.

    Violence still haunts Iraq though it hits a four-year low. Two car bombs killed 12 people in Baghdad on Monday. Hours later, a female suicide bomber killed 20 people in Diyala province. Earlier Tuesday morning, two people were killed and 13 others injured in a roadside bomb explosion in a town north of Baghdad.