The British Joint Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group cleared the former Shatt al-Arab Hotel in Basra of unexploded ordnance. The hotel formerly was an operational base for British troops. As troops have been redeployed out of Iraq and the remaining British units moved to the Basra Airport, the hotel was transferred to the Iraqi army, the British Ministry of Defense reported.

The ordnance disposal operation was an effort to clear what is now called the Basra Operations Center of ordnance that had been confiscated during the course of securing the region. Officials say the operation resulted in the disposal of more than six tons of explosives.

"By getting rid of six tons of unexploded ordnance we achieved two things," Lt. Jason White, Joint EOD group commander, said in a statement. "Firstly we've made the Basra Operations Center a much safer place and, secondly, we've far reduced the scale of the problem -- making it easier for the Iraqi army to deal with what remains."

Officials say the explosives were taken to a remote area of the desert and disposed of in a series of detonations.

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