Related Event: Iraq in Transition

In Iraq, President Jalal Talabani met British and US diplomats on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of the transfer of power to Iraqis.

The country's first Kurdish president says Iraqis have much to be thankful for.

"This is a blessed day, it is the anniversary of the regaining of our independence and national sovereignty in accordance with UN Security Council resolution number 1546. Thus, Iraq has regained its independence and sovereignty."

There have been positive developments in the year since the handover, the most notable being the election of the 275-member National Assembly in January, Iraq's first free vote in a half-century.

However, the insurgency has drastically overshadowed the improvements and created havoc around the country.

There have been about 500 car bombs in Iraq over the past year. Thousands of Iraqi civilians, police and soldiers have lost their lives and the violence shows no sign of letting up.