Iraqi FM: 'We are ready'
 |  Zebari: "This is a political struggle in which we are engaged." |
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 Coalition Administrator Paul Bremer handed the transfer document to the interim government.
 The coalition has transferred power to the Iraqi interim government two days earlier than the scheduled June 30 date.
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ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) -- The surprise early handover of power to Iraq's interim government was first signaled by Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari in Istanbul early Monday, on the sidelines of a summit of NATO leaders.
"We will challenge these elements in Iraq, the anti-democratic elements, by even bringing the handover of sovereignty before June 30 as a sign we are ready for it," Zebari said Monday after a meeting with British PM Tony Blair.
Speaking to CNN later, Zebari said that the time was right for the interim government to take over.
"What I said was in fact, we are ready as the new Iraqi interim government to resume our responsibilities, especially now that we have a new U.N. Security Council resolution," Zebari told CNN.
"We, as Iraqis, are confident and we wanted to demonstrate that we are ready, even before the date June 30.
"We have been discussing with the prime minister, with other ministries and the CPA (Coalition Provisional Authority) that the process is moving on, and if we are ready (to take power) before that, let's do it."
Zebari said the Iraqi delegation at the NATO summit would return to Baghdad later Monday with a pledge from NATO leaders to provide more help to the interim Iraqi government.
"We presented our case and asked the organization for support and assistance, so we are confident and wanted to demonstrate that we are willing to resume our full responsibilities," he said.
"We are ready."
Zebari denied that the early handover was planned to prevent any sabotage by insurgents in Iraq who may have been planning attacks for the scheduled June 30 handover date.
"I think the sabotage would be there for some time with us. This is a political struggle in which we are engaged," he told CNN.
"We want to prove to the Iraqi people and the world that we are in charge. We can manage our own security and can defend ourselves provided we are given the means and support to do that."
"Those who are counting on Iraq being divided ... should revise their assessment."
Zebari conceded the interim government faced many security challenges but said he didn't think the possibility of civil war existed.
"(There is a) very deadly terrorist network operating there (in Iraq), but we will rise up to responsibility and face those challenges," he said.
