RAMADI, Iraqi., Aug.

By Dexter Filkins Two years ago, Anbar Province was the most lethal place for American forces in Iraq. A U.S. marine or soldier died in the province nearly every day, and the provincial capital, Ramadi, was a moonscape of rubble and ruins.

By Charles Levinson BAGHDAD -- The U.S. military turned over control of Iraq's Anbar province, once the country's most dangerous, to the Iraqi government Monday in a landmark step toward the withdrawal of more American troops.

By Patrick Cockburn THE US military handed over security control of the province of Anbar to Iraqi government forces yesterday, claiming victory over al- Qa'ida in Iraq. President George Bush hailed the deal as a breakthrough.

By Chelsea J. Carter Associated Press SAN DIEGO -- The drawdown of Marines from the former Sunni insurgent stronghold of Anbar will take time because there is still much work to be done, a top U.S. commander said Sunday on the eve of the once violent province's transfer to Iraqi security control.