The US civil administrator of Iraq Paul Bremer attended the ceremony along with Iyad Allawi, the president of the US-picked Iraqi Governing Council for the month of October, and the top US commander in Iraq, Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez.

Allawi urged the new recruits to serve well their country, protect the people and turn the page on the brutal regime of ousted leader Saddam Hussein.

"The old regime turned the army into a machine to oppress the people. Change will only be made through liberty, sovereignty and independence," Allawi said.

"You will defend your country. Our army will serve peace and protect the people, all the people," he told the first Iraqi battalion.