Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Saudis allegedly offer Barzani $2 billion to seced Kirkuk
(DPA) - A Shiite newspaper published in Baghdad reported Tuesday that Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani had turned down a 2-billion-dollar offer from the Saudis in return for giving up demands to have oil-rich Kirkuk as the capital of Kurdistan. Al-Bianh al-Jadidah newspaper said that the Saudi offer was made to Barzani and Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Borham Saleh when they visited Saudi Arabia last month.
The Saudis asked for a 10-year freeze on the Kurdish demand to incorporate Kirkuk in the north of Iraq into Kurdistan. The newspaper said that an Iraqi government source, who did not want to be named, said both Barzani and Saleh had declined to give in to Saudi pressure to give up the 'Kurds' historical rights to the city.'
The Saudis asked for a 10-year freeze on the Kurdish demand to incorporate Kirkuk in the north of Iraq into Kurdistan. The newspaper said that an Iraqi government source, who did not want to be named, said both Barzani and Saleh had declined to give in to Saudi pressure to give up the 'Kurds' historical rights to the city.'
Labels: Borham Saleh, Kirkuk, Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, Saudi Arabia
