For the government, this is a happy consequence of the handover of control over interest rates.

ECONOMIST: The economy

Chalabi said the Coalition Provisional Authority is unhappy with his demands for Iraq's provisional government to be given full control of the Iraqi army after the June 30 handover and for control of the investigation of fraud in the U.N. oil-for-food program.

CNN: Chalabi suspected of giving U.S. secrets to Iran

However, he said 2014 was the existing target date in the military strategy for the handover of security control to Afghan forces.

BBC: Afghanistan aid spending boost expected to be announced

Mr. Karzai's outburst came a day after the U.S. abruptly canceled a planned handover to Afghan control of its main detention facility in Afghanistan, at the Bagram Air Field.

WSJ: Karzai Says Taliban 'in Service to America'

There will be a handover of combat operations to Afghan control next year.

BBC: Is Nato's Afghan timetable a milestone or millstone?

Brig Rupert Jones, commander of 1st Mechanized Brigade, admits that ceding control of operations on the ground is hard, but also a vital part of the handover, with Afghan forces now leading 80% of operations in central Helmand.

BBC: UK troops prepare for Helmand tour