U.S. hands Bagram prison to Afghans

In a formal ceremony on Monday, the United States hands over control of the biggest U.S.-run prison in Afghanistan to the Afghan government.

Colonel Robert Tavadash, a U.S. commander of task forces at Bagram airbase, north of Kabul, said thousands of detainees had been transferred into Afghan custody.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) COLONEL ROBERT TAVADASH COMMANDER OF TASK FORCES AT BAGRAM AIRBASE SAYING:

"We transferred more than 3,000 Afghan detainees into your custody at an expedient rate and ensured that those who would threaten the partnership of Afghanistan and coalition forces will not return to the battlefield."

Afghanistan's acting minister of defense said his forces are prepared to take on the responsibility.

(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) AFGHAN ACTING MINISTER OF DEFENSE ENAYATULLAH NAZARI SAYING:

"Our Afghan security forces are well-trained and we are happy that today they are exercising their capability in taking the responsibility of prisoners independently and guarding the prisoners. We are taking the responsibility from foreign forces."

Afghanistan and the United States signed an agreement in March for the transfer of the prison.

But the agreement states that the U.S. has veto power over which detainees can be released from Bagram, which is believed to hold many suspected Taliban fighters.