English/Nat
Palestinians shouting "God is great," have been celebrating the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the West Bank city of Jenin.
It is the first city to come under Palestinian self-rule following the Israeli PLO agreement signed in Washington last September.
It was due to happen in a week's time, but the Israeli pull out was brought forward following the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.
Hundreds of Palestinians cheered, whistled and shouted "God is great" as the Israelis left.
A convoy of 14 jeeps and armoured vehicles drove out of the fenced compound from which Israel ruled Jenin during 28 years of military occupation.
The moment the Israelis left, some 200 uniformed Palestinian police moved into the building.
Behind them hundreds of Jenin residents tried to push their way in too.
A Palestinian flag was soon flying above the compound.
Jibril Rajoub, the P-L-O security chief in charge of the West Bank, appealed for calm.
But Palestinian police did nothing to stop an impromptu convoy of revellers driving through the base.
As they wound their way through the compound they made "V" for victory signs and fired pistols into the air.
SOUNDBITE:
This is one of the most historic days of my life. I am very excited to see the occupation leave.
SUPERCAPTION: Jenin resident
The pullout from Jenin started around midnight Sunday.
Israeli troops lowered the flag at the military headquarters.
A total of 1,000 police will be deployed in Jenin and surrounding villages.
They drove into the city decked in Palestinian flags and decorated with posters of P-L-O chief Yasser Arafat.
Jenin is the first of six Palestinian cities to be handed over to Palestinian control by the end of year.
Elections are due to be held in the New Year.
In a seventh town, Hebron, the army will redeploy by March.
Palestinians will also establish self-rule in about 500 villages in the West Bank.
But Israeli troops will have the final say on security matters in these rural areas.
Jenin is the least problematic West Bank city to be turned over to the P-L-O. There are few Jewish settlers in the area around it.
