MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia expelled a journalist on Sunday who had alleged Kremlin malpractice in this month’s parliamentary election and tracked funds flowing from Kremlin officials to foreign banks.

Iraq’s government is planning to release thousands of detainees from custody as part of efforts to forge national reconciliation between Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims, a top Iraqi official said on Sunday.

Britain handed over security in Basra province to Iraqi forces on Sunday, effectively marking the end of nearly five years of British control of southern Iraq.