Thursday, September 20, 2007
Turkish artillery shells Duhuk
Region
(Voices of Iraq) - Turkish artillery shelled border regions in Duhuk province, a source from the border guard forces said on Wednesday. "The border villages of Zakho and al-Emadiyah cities in Duhuk province were pounded late Tuesday by Turkish artillery," the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) on condition of anonymity, noting that the shelling lasted until 8:00 am on Wednesday.
"More than 82 rounds hit different border regions in Duhuk," he explained. No word was available on the damage caused by the shelling. A local resident said that the Turkish shelling caused panic among civilians. Duhuk is the third province within Iraq's Kurdistan region It is in the far north of Iraq with borders with Turkey. It is located 460 km north of Baghdad.
"More than 82 rounds hit different border regions in Duhuk," he explained. No word was available on the damage caused by the shelling. A local resident said that the Turkish shelling caused panic among civilians. Duhuk is the third province within Iraq's Kurdistan region It is in the far north of Iraq with borders with Turkey. It is located 460 km north of Baghdad.
Labels: al-Emadiyah, Duhuk, Turkish forces, Zakho
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
KRG defends oil contract with Hunt Oil Co.
Oil, Kurdistan
(Reuters) - The government of Iraq's Kurdish region on Tuesday defended an oil and gas production contract it has concluded with a U.S. company, rejecting remarks by the country's oil minister who questioned its legality. The semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) said on Saturday it had signed the production sharing contract with a unit of U.S.-based Hunt Oil Co. and with Impulse Energy Corp.
Media reports have quoted Iraqi Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani as saying that the deal "has no standing" because it was not approved by the central government in Baghdad. "Shahristani's recent remarks about the legality of the KRG's contracts are totally unacceptable..." said Khaled Salih, spokesman of the Kurdistan regional government, in a statement made available to Reuters. "His (Shahristani) views are totally irrelevant to what we are doing legally and constitutionally in Kurdistan.
"The deal is the first such contract since the region passed its own oil law in August, while Iraq's parliament failed to pass a national law after months of negotiations. The national law is crucial to regulating how wealth from Iraq's oil reserves, the world's third largest, will be shared out among its sectarian and ethnic groups. The reserves are mainly in the north and the south of the country. "What right does Shahristani have to question the legitimacy of contracts awarded by KRG acting under the powers of the newly enacted law passed by the unanimous decision of the Regional Parliament and according to the new Iraq constitution?" the statement said.
The deal covers exploration activity in the Dihok area. Hunt Oil Co. of the Kurdistan Region will begin geological survey and seismic work by the end of 2007 and has plans to drill an exploration well in 2008. The regional government has signed five production sharing agreements earlier with foreign companies.
Labels: Duhuk, Hunt Oil Co., Hussain al-Shahristani, Impulse Energy Corp., Khaled Salih, KRG, oil contract
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Iranian acts force Kurds to flee homes as the Iraqi govt is blamed for not taking action
Security, Kurdistan
(Voices of Iraq) - Hundreds of panicky Kurdish families inhabiting border areas with neighboring Iran had to flee their homes after Iranian shelling targeted villages at the foot of Mount Qandeel in Sulaimaniya province, 364 km northeast of Baghdad. The families are now living in groups in tents near rivers and wells, waiting for the government's helping hand that is never outstretched.
Iran has been shelling border areas in Qalaat Daza, 135 km northewest of Sulaimaniya; Haj Omran, 147 km northeast of Arbil; and Banjwin district, 96 km northeast of Sulaimaniya for two weeks now under the pretext of tracking down PJAK fighters. Turkey, also, was shelling border areas in the northern Iraqi province of Duhuk under the pretext of fighting members of imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan's Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Kurdish sources said the shelling caused damage to property and fires in Kurdish forests.
Iran has been shelling border areas in Qalaat Daza, 135 km northewest of Sulaimaniya; Haj Omran, 147 km northeast of Arbil; and Banjwin district, 96 km northeast of Sulaimaniya for two weeks now under the pretext of tracking down PJAK fighters. Turkey, also, was shelling border areas in the northern Iraqi province of Duhuk under the pretext of fighting members of imprisoned leader Abdullah Ocalan's Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Kurdish sources said the shelling caused damage to property and fires in Kurdish forests.
PJAK (Partiya Jiyana Azada Kurdistanê in Kurdish or Kurdistan Free Life Party) is a Kurdish military opposition group founded in 2004, said to be linked to the PKK. PJAK, although a newly established organization, continuously launches militant operations against Iranian army forces, so that in 2005, in less than 6 months, it killed 120 Iranian police and wounded tens more.
Homeless families complain of a lack of humanitarian relief from any organization, in light of immense material losses, as the shelling sets their lands on fire. Each of the villages of Maradawa, Arka, Aki, Sirw, Sora Kola, Spilka, Eleih and Rash have received more than 50 Iranian artillery shells. Hundreds of acres of orchards were burnt. The attacks caused no casualties.
In the village of Sora Kola, life seems to have come to a standstill. Only seven houses were still standing and all were vacant except one, where the men of the village gathered together. Their families had fled scores of kilometers away. "We hold (Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri) al-Maliki responsible for the burnt orchards and gardens. These incidents took place only after his (recent) visits to Syria, Iran and Turkey," 56-year-old Hamad Hassan told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) while leaning on his pillow and sadly looking at the burnt fields.
A spokesman for the Iraqi Kurdistan region's security force (Peshmerga) had held the central government in Baghdad responsible for any decision representing "a reply to Iranian shelling." "The problem is occurring on international borders. It is Baghdad's responsibility," the Peshmerga spokesman Jabbar Yawir, said.
In one of the PJAK strongholds Amir Kerimi, a member of the Kurdish group's administrative body, said "Iran's attacks began right after Maliki visited Syria, Turkey and Iran and made agreements with those countries." On concerns that Mount Qandeel might turn into a haven for al-Qaeda Organization in Iraq if the PJAK and PKK fighters withdraw, Kerimi replied "No force can ever take Mount Qandeel from us."
PJAK is a splinter group of the PKK. It separated from it after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan was imprisoned in Turkish jails. The nearly 3,000 PJAK fighters then started their armed struggle against the Iranian authorities, with the aim of "building federalism for Iran's Kurdistan."
Homeless families complain of a lack of humanitarian relief from any organization, in light of immense material losses, as the shelling sets their lands on fire. Each of the villages of Maradawa, Arka, Aki, Sirw, Sora Kola, Spilka, Eleih and Rash have received more than 50 Iranian artillery shells. Hundreds of acres of orchards were burnt. The attacks caused no casualties.
In the village of Sora Kola, life seems to have come to a standstill. Only seven houses were still standing and all were vacant except one, where the men of the village gathered together. Their families had fled scores of kilometers away. "We hold (Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri) al-Maliki responsible for the burnt orchards and gardens. These incidents took place only after his (recent) visits to Syria, Iran and Turkey," 56-year-old Hamad Hassan told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) while leaning on his pillow and sadly looking at the burnt fields.
A spokesman for the Iraqi Kurdistan region's security force (Peshmerga) had held the central government in Baghdad responsible for any decision representing "a reply to Iranian shelling." "The problem is occurring on international borders. It is Baghdad's responsibility," the Peshmerga spokesman Jabbar Yawir, said.
In one of the PJAK strongholds Amir Kerimi, a member of the Kurdish group's administrative body, said "Iran's attacks began right after Maliki visited Syria, Turkey and Iran and made agreements with those countries." On concerns that Mount Qandeel might turn into a haven for al-Qaeda Organization in Iraq if the PJAK and PKK fighters withdraw, Kerimi replied "No force can ever take Mount Qandeel from us."
PJAK is a splinter group of the PKK. It separated from it after PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan was imprisoned in Turkish jails. The nearly 3,000 PJAK fighters then started their armed struggle against the Iranian authorities, with the aim of "building federalism for Iran's Kurdistan."
Labels: Duhuk, Iran, Mount Qandeel, Nouri Al-Maliki, Peshmerga, PJAK, PKK, Sulaimaniya province, Turkey
Friday, July 27, 2007
Turkish forces shell Zakho border regions
Kurdistan
(Voices of Iraq) - The Turkish forces shelled border regions in Zakho district, a security source from the border guard forces in Duhuk province said on Thursday. "More than 30 cannonballs hit Shlash Dar, Serakork, Afla and Berbla regions in Zakho district, northwest of Duhuk, late Wednesday" the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"The shelling lasts for an hour without causing casualties," he added. Meanwhile, local residents from shelled regions told the VOI that the Turkish artillery shelled regions near to the Deshesh village on borders with Turkey. "The shelling caused no casualties but spread fear among the residents," an eyewitness said.
Duhuk is the third province within Iraq's Kurdistan region It is in the far north of Iraq with borders with Turkey. It is located 460 km north of Baghdad.
"The shelling lasts for an hour without causing casualties," he added. Meanwhile, local residents from shelled regions told the VOI that the Turkish artillery shelled regions near to the Deshesh village on borders with Turkey. "The shelling caused no casualties but spread fear among the residents," an eyewitness said.
Duhuk is the third province within Iraq's Kurdistan region It is in the far north of Iraq with borders with Turkey. It is located 460 km north of Baghdad.
Labels: Duhuk, Turkish forces, Zakho district
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
KRG loses $1 mn. after U.S. company withdraws from a project
Kurdistan
(Voices of Iraq) - A foreign organization caused a one million U.S. dollar loss to Iraq's Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) after withdrawing from a project to build a village, which was assigned to it in 2004, a source from Duhuk's municipal council said on Sunday. "As a result of the withdrawal of Mission East, a U.S. organization, from a project to build Bosla village, the KRG suffered a huge financial loss of $1 million dollars, including construction materials and workers' fees," Hamid Ahmed Saleh from the council told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"Without notifying or coordinating with the local administration, the organization agreed with a number of residents to built 300 residential houses in Bosla village… Due to the insufficiency of its budget, the organization asked the administration for help," Saleh explained. "After studying the project, the number of residential houses was reduced to 150. Local residents rejected this reduction, which led the organization to leave the project, causing massive losses to the regional government," Saleh indicated. When asked about damages from the organization, Saleh said that the organization "apologized for this unintended mistake," noting that the regional government did not sue it for compensation.
"Without notifying or coordinating with the local administration, the organization agreed with a number of residents to built 300 residential houses in Bosla village… Due to the insufficiency of its budget, the organization asked the administration for help," Saleh explained. "After studying the project, the number of residential houses was reduced to 150. Local residents rejected this reduction, which led the organization to leave the project, causing massive losses to the regional government," Saleh indicated. When asked about damages from the organization, Saleh said that the organization "apologized for this unintended mistake," noting that the regional government did not sue it for compensation.
Labels: Bosla village, Duhuk, KRG, Mission East
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Mine employees go on strike in Dahuk
(Voices of Iraq) - Employees of the Public Corporation for Mines in Duhuk went on several days strike on Tuesday, protesting their low salaries, a source from the corporation said. "Contracted employees went on strike today because of their low salaries compared to their counterparts in Sulaimaniya," Nouzad Abdullah, a protester, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"Around 210 employees took part in the strike that will continue until their demands are accepted," Abdullah added. "The strike will harm the work of the corporation, especially after the workers in Arbil's branch started to experience the same problem," he added.
The chairman of the corporation in Duhuk, Engineer Uwaynan Youssef, said earlier that the region tops Iraq's regions in terms of the spread of landmines, noting that workers managed to remove 1,579 land mines and 1,074 cluster bombs during a year.
"Around 210 employees took part in the strike that will continue until their demands are accepted," Abdullah added. "The strike will harm the work of the corporation, especially after the workers in Arbil's branch started to experience the same problem," he added.
The chairman of the corporation in Duhuk, Engineer Uwaynan Youssef, said earlier that the region tops Iraq's regions in terms of the spread of landmines, noting that workers managed to remove 1,579 land mines and 1,074 cluster bombs during a year.
Labels: Duhuk, Public Corporation for Mines, strikes, Uwaynan Youssef
Monday, April 30, 2007
Checkpoints placed on Iraqi Kurdistan border woth Tukey, Syria
Security
(Voices of Iraq) - A number of checkpoints were set up on Iraq's Kurdistan's borders with Turkey and Syria to watch Iraqi borders there, a source in border guards in Kurdistan Duhuk said on Friday. "A total of eight checkpoints have been established on Iraq's Kurdistan's borders with Syria and Turkey," chief of border guards in Duhuk Colonel Hussein Tamur told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"The checkpoints were set up along the border line from Beshabour region near to the Syrian borders in the west of Duhuk to Zakho district near to the Turkish borders in the farthest north," he added. "The checkpoints' main function is to watch and monitor borders continuously," the source also said. "More checkpoints will be established in border areas in the future," he noted.
The border line with Syria and Turkey has been a scene to smugglers who guide Iraqis from different parts of the country to cross the borders illegally to Syria and Turkey and then to Europe. Two weeks ago, Turkish authorities extradited 737 Iraqis to Kurdish security authorities after arresting them during an inspection campaign to hotels and offices in different parts in Turkey. Most of the extradited people sneaked into Turkish territory by illegal ways. Duhuk is the third province within Iraq's Kurdistan region. It is in the far north of Iraq with borders with Turkey and Syria.
"The checkpoints were set up along the border line from Beshabour region near to the Syrian borders in the west of Duhuk to Zakho district near to the Turkish borders in the farthest north," he added. "The checkpoints' main function is to watch and monitor borders continuously," the source also said. "More checkpoints will be established in border areas in the future," he noted.
The border line with Syria and Turkey has been a scene to smugglers who guide Iraqis from different parts of the country to cross the borders illegally to Syria and Turkey and then to Europe. Two weeks ago, Turkish authorities extradited 737 Iraqis to Kurdish security authorities after arresting them during an inspection campaign to hotels and offices in different parts in Turkey. Most of the extradited people sneaked into Turkish territory by illegal ways. Duhuk is the third province within Iraq's Kurdistan region. It is in the far north of Iraq with borders with Turkey and Syria.
Labels: Beshabour region, checkpoints, Colonel Hussein Tamur, Duhuk, Kurdistan, Syria, Turkey
