Iraq War to the square around away, where protesters burned an effigy featuring the face of U.S. President George W. Bush. There were also Sunni Muslims in the crowd. Police said many Sunnis, including prominent leaders such as a founding sheikh from the Sons of Iraq, took part. On 30 April, the United Kingdom formally ended combat operations. Prime Minister Gordon Brown characterized the operation in Iraq as a "success story" because of UK troops' efforts. Britain handed control of Basra to the United States Armed Forces. On 28 July, Australia withdrew its combat forces as the Australian military presence in Iraq
Nasiriyah on their behalf, having curried their favor by strongly supporting the 1908 Young Turk Revolution. In the early 20th century, Nasiriyah had a population of roughly 10,000. Most of its inhabitants were Shia Muslim Arabs, although there were about 1,000 Sunni Muslim Arabs, 300 Mandeans, 300 Persians, 200 Ethiopians, 150 Jews, 50 Turkmens, 50 Kurds and 20 indigenous Christians. It was a major center of trade in Ottoman Iraq and imported foreign goods via commerce with Baghdad and Basra. The chief commodities Nasiriyah produced included leather, grain and ghee. The town contained about 600 well-built stone houses, but most buildings