The transfer of power came after a weekend that saw dozens of Iraqis die as members of the resistance launched attacks across the country. In Hilla a double car bombing killed up to 40 people. In Baquba, gunmen attacked the offices of Prime Minister Ayad Allawi’s party, the Iraq National Accord. the offices of one of the country’s biggest Shiite parties, the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq also came under attack. At a checkpoint north of Baghdad six Iraqi National Guard soldiers were killed by anti-tank rockets. Two Iraqi children died in a mortar attack near the Sheraton Hotel in Baghdad. A U.S. soldier died in Baghdad in a rocket attack on the coalition’s base. Meanwhile U.S. forces bombed Fallujah again killing up to 25 in an attempt to kill supporters of Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi.

Meanwhile three Turkish men, one U.S. soldier and one Pakistani man have been taken hostage by separate resistance groups who have threatened to behead the men if demands are not met. The U.S. soldier has been identfied as Wassef Ali Hassoun a marine corporal of Lebanese descent. The Pakistani man worked for Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root.