The handover of power to the Iraqi interim government on Monday, two days earlier than originally scheduled, was a surprise to the world.

Now Prime Minister Iyad Allawi must lead a shattered country for seven months while preparing for January's general election.

Though the transition is an important step in Iraq's sluggish post-war reconstruction, its hurried and secret nature spoke volumes about how formidable the road ahead will be for the new Iraqi government.

The transfer of sovereignty is a key part of US President George W. Bush's exit strategy. It is also a step to try to convince his fellow Americans and the rest of the world that he has a plan for eventually extricating the United States from a situation that prominent Democrats have compared to Viet Nam.

In this sense, the change of command two days ahead of schedule provides a badly-needed boon to the United States' prospects in the short-term, dispelling public doubts about whether the handover would take place on time or at all.

Yet what matters most to the reconstruction stage is restoring stability and bringing a speedy end to the violence-plagued occupation.

Despite the political change of face in Baghdad, no one expects the country to look any different in terms of car bombings, suicide attacks and chaos.

Hours after the handover, blasts rocked central Baghdad, as they do nearly every day in the Iraqi capital.

Guerrillas have mounted bloody attacks this month aimed at disrupting the handover and discrediting Allawi's government, which was selected in large measure by the United States.

Even Bush acknowledged there will be more attacks.

The unrelenting violence against the occupation forces has thrown a damper on the newly born government's prospects.

The real test will be whether or not the Iraqis can master their own fate after the new government is sworn in. Will Prime Minister Allawi's fledgling government win hearts, minds, and security control?

The hope is that if the new government wins the support of its people, this might in turn chasten the militants -- some local, others radicals who streamed in through Iraq's porous borders -- to end the insurrection.

Nevertheless, according to a resolution of the United Nations Security Council earlier this month, the interim government will play a nominal rather than decisive role.

There are ostensible constraints on its regained "sovereignty." The caretaker government is barred from making long-term policy decisions, and over 160,000 occupation troops will remain in the country.

Is sovereignty "real" if security remains in the hands of foreign troops?

(China Daily June 30, 2004)