US timetable for handing over Iraq detainees slips

The U.S. military's timetable for handing the thousands of detainees it still holds in Iraq over to local authorities appears to be slipping, according to information from the U.S. military on Monday. The U.S. military never set a specific date for turning over all detainees held during the years of warfare triggered by the 2003 invasion, but U.S. officials previously said they expected that to occur in January. The largest remaining U.S. detention center at Camp Taji north of Baghdad was due to be given to Iraqi authorities on Jan. 10. That was now set for late February or early March, said Captain Brad Kimberly, a spokesman for the detention operations. Kimberly gave no reason for the slippage in the timetable.