People on the streets of Basra cheered the departure of the British.
"We reject any strangers and they are colonialists," resident Rudha Muter told Associated Press Television News. "We are pleased that the Iraqi army are now taking over the situation. We as an Iraqi people reject occupation. We reject colonialism. We want our freedom."
Another resident, Khazaal al-Nisiri, said he was confident the Iraqi army would be able to provide enough security without the British presence.
Brits Quit Basra Base