Friday, October 05, 2007
PUK says Turkey has banned Iraqi airlines from its airspace
Region
(RFE/RL) - The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan's website reported on October 3 that Turkey has banned Iraqi airlines from using its airspace. It said that Turkey previously prevented flights between Germany and Iraqi Kurdistan, apparently through a similar ban, but later agreed to permit the flights. "As passengers prepared to [fly on October 2] from Frankfurt and Munich to Irbil and Al-Sulaymaniyah, Hamburg International Company informed Zozik Airline Company in Kurdistan that Turkey decided to stop all the journeys [after] 6:30 p.m. Berlin time using Turkish airspace," the website reported. Zozik Airline Director Nawzad Dizay'i confirmed the ban.
Labels: airspace, Nawzad Dizay'i, PUK, Turkey, Zozik Airline Company
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
KRG, Hashimi call on Iraqi government to do more to protect Kurdish citizens
Security, Kurdistan
(RFE/RL) - Sunni Arab Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi on August 27 called on the Iraqi government to protect Kurdish citizens from shelling operations carried out by neighboring states, Al-Sharqiyah television reported the same day. Al-Hashimi said in a statement released by the Iraqi Islamic Party, which he heads, that the nearly two weeks of shelling is unjustified. He said the Iraqi government is obliged to take action to secure the areas under attack and reduce casualties.
Kurdish officials have said Iran has bombed several villages Tehran suspects of sheltering Iranian Kurdish militants. Meanwhile, state-run Al-Iraqiyah television reported on August 27 that Kurds demonstrated outside the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan headquarters in Irbil to protest Iranian and Turkish shelling of villages outside Al-Sulaymaniyah and Dahuk. Iranian government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham denied on August 22 that Iran had dropped leaflets warning Kurdish villagers to evacuate the area ahead of a planned military operation, Reuters reported the same day.
Elham refused to comment further on Iranian operations in the area, except to say: "Iran is ready to deal with groups that jeopardize the security of the people in the region without hurting civilians," the news agency reported. Turkey has denied taking part in the shelling, but Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul last week voiced possible Turkish support for a cross-border operation by Iran, turkishweekly.net reported on August 27. Kurdistan Satellite television on August 28 carried a live broadcast of the Kurdistan regional parliament's extraordinary session to discuss the reported shelling of Iraqi Kurdish villages by Iran and Turkey.
Regional parliament spokesman Tariq Jawhar told Al-Iraqiyah in an August 27 interview that the central government has said little about the shelling. "We have not yet heard any official Iraqi reaction [to the shelling] except for the statements made [on August 26] by the prime minister to the effect that the Iranian and Turkish shelling and operations violate Iraq's sovereignty.... [We] hope the Iraqi government will take practical measures and demand the Iranian and Turkish sides halt their military operations." Prime Minister al-Maliki told reporters at an August 26 press briefing in Baghdad: "The bombardments by Iran and Turkey are violations of Iraq's sovereignty. We will not allow these violations, but this must come through diplomatic channels. We will inform our brothers in Turkey and Iran about that through the Foreign Ministry."
Labels: Iran, Iraqi Islamic Party, KRG, Kurdistan, PUK, Tariq al-Hashimi, Turkey
Friday, August 24, 2007
Iraqi Kurds warn Iran about shelling
Region
(RFE/RL) - Responding to reports that the Iranian military is shelling Iraqi Kurdish villages, Jabbar Yawir, the undersecretary of the autonomous Kurdistan region's Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, said, "I cannot believe that the Islamic Republic of Iran would lead its forces to commit such a mistake, since shelling the territories of another state is a violation of international conventions," the Peyamner news agency reported on August 22.
Referring to media reports that Iranian helicopters dropped leaflets warning Iraqi Kurds to abandon their villages ahead of a planned bombing campaign against Kurdish separatists, Yawir said: "If these leaflets were really distributed by an official Iranian Army source, then Iran is accusing itself of bombarding the territories of the [Iraqi] Kurdistan region".
Al-Sharqiyah television reported on August 22 that the political bureaus of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Kurdistan Democratic Party held an emergency meeting in Baghdad to discuss the shelling, among other issues. They called on the Iraqi government to send a letter of protest to Iran, the news channel reported.
Spokesman Jamal Abdallah said the Kurdistan regional government has sent a letter of protest to Iran, "Awene" reported on August 22. Meanwhile, "Kurdistan Nuwe" quoted a source as saying that tanks, armored vehicles, and long-range artillery have been deployed along the Iranian border. The source contended that Turkish soldiers were also seen in the area, prompting fears of a joint Turkish-Iranian operation.
Labels: Iran, KDP, Kurdistan, Major General Jabbar Yawir, PUK, Turkey
Friday, August 17, 2007
Four major political parties sign agreement to revive Iraqi political process as Sunni party leader warns of setting up "counter coalitions"
Politics
(Voices of Iraq) - A leading figure from the Sunni Islamic Party expressed on Thursday reservation over a new Kurdish-Shiite alliance that announced earlier today in Baghdad, warning of setting up what he described as "counter coalitions." "We, the Islamic Party, express our reservation on the new alliance and we see that it is too early to confirm whether it will work out or not," Omar Abdul Sattar told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI) by telephone.
The politician said "yesterday (Wednesday) we had a meeting with the two Kurdish parties (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic Party) to discuss the political situation and the possible means to rescue the country from the current impasse and we told them the time is premature to form such an alliance."
The leading figure whose party is a main component of the Sunni Accordance Front said "We were in need of many steps to take and more common visions to share before we could reach the compromise of a six-way alliance that would also include (former Iraqi PM) Allawi's Iraqi National List and the Islamic party, but the differences caused the alliance to be announced by four components only."
"The new alliance may lead to the formation of new counter-coalitions, which I expect will cause more deterioration in the country," said Abdul Sattar noting that "we could not correct a mistake by committing another one." Abdul Sattar, who declined to reply to a question by VOI as to whether the new alliance was meant to declare a parliamentary majority's government if Accordance ministers who quit the cabinet refused to return, commented "it is a step towards prolonging the life of al-Maliki's government."
The politician said "yesterday (Wednesday) we had a meeting with the two Kurdish parties (Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and Kurdistan Democratic Party) to discuss the political situation and the possible means to rescue the country from the current impasse and we told them the time is premature to form such an alliance."
The leading figure whose party is a main component of the Sunni Accordance Front said "We were in need of many steps to take and more common visions to share before we could reach the compromise of a six-way alliance that would also include (former Iraqi PM) Allawi's Iraqi National List and the Islamic party, but the differences caused the alliance to be announced by four components only."
"The new alliance may lead to the formation of new counter-coalitions, which I expect will cause more deterioration in the country," said Abdul Sattar noting that "we could not correct a mistake by committing another one." Abdul Sattar, who declined to reply to a question by VOI as to whether the new alliance was meant to declare a parliamentary majority's government if Accordance ministers who quit the cabinet refused to return, commented "it is a step towards prolonging the life of al-Maliki's government."
Four major Iraqi political parties signed on Thursday an agreement, aired by al-Iraqiya satellite television, to revive the political process in Iraq. The agreement was signed by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the Islamic Daawa party and the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC). The four parties were represented by President Jalal Talabani, President of Kurdistan region Massoud Barazani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi.
President Talabani refused to use the word “quartet” or “moderates’ bloc,” noting that they had signed an initiative to revive the political process. “We cannot call it a bloc, but rather an agreement between four parties committed to former agreements for reviving the political process,” Talabani said in a press conference attended by Nouri al-Maliki, Barazani and Abdul Mahdi.
“We tried to made contact with the Iraqi Islamic Party in an attempt to involve it in the agreement, but it said that the circumstances were not appropriate,” he added. “The bloc consists of four parties now but it is open for all parties to take part in it,” Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said. “We will try to revive the stagnant political process; we will not accept it to be hampered. The agreement is not a replacement of the political blocs, the door is open for all to participate,” the premier explained.
President Talabani refused to use the word “quartet” or “moderates’ bloc,” noting that they had signed an initiative to revive the political process. “We cannot call it a bloc, but rather an agreement between four parties committed to former agreements for reviving the political process,” Talabani said in a press conference attended by Nouri al-Maliki, Barazani and Abdul Mahdi.
“We tried to made contact with the Iraqi Islamic Party in an attempt to involve it in the agreement, but it said that the circumstances were not appropriate,” he added. “The bloc consists of four parties now but it is open for all parties to take part in it,” Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said. “We will try to revive the stagnant political process; we will not accept it to be hampered. The agreement is not a replacement of the political blocs, the door is open for all to participate,” the premier explained.
Labels: Dawa party, Iraqi Islamic Party, KDP, Omar Abdul Sattar, PUK, SIIC
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Kurdistan Region Would Like Allawi’s Bloc To Join The “Four Party” Front
Politics
(Azzaman Newspaper) - 7 AUG - The Kurdistan region’s President, and KDP leader, Massoud Barzani, met (recently) with Ayad Allawi and they discussed the recent developments in the Iraqi political process, especially, the crisis which confronts the Al Maliki government, since the Accord Front decided to withdraw from this government.
Sources close to the Kurdistan President’s office said, “Barzani discussed the subject of Allawi joining the ‘four party front’.” [He was referring to the new political front which includes the KDP, PUK, SICI, and Dawa parties.] Fouad Hussein, spokesman for the Kurdistan region’s government, said, “The two sides (Allawi and Barzani) discussed the forming of this ‘fourth front’… which will remain open to fronts from all sides of the political process.”
The sources continued, “Kurdistan’s regional command (group) is working to (convince) Allawi to join this ‘fourth front’.” The ‘fourth front’, which is also known as “The Moderate Front”, is a new political bloc which is ‘supposed to’ include: the two main Kurdish parties (KDP and PUK) plus the SICI and Dawa Parties. This (new) Front is open to accepting other groups, into the Front, if those groups believe in the political process.
Yesterday, an Iraqi List source announced: former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, the leader of the Iraqi List, has ‘requested’ his List’s five Ministers (in Maliki’s Cabinet) to boycott the meetings of the Ministers’ Council… (This boycott is called for) as a condemnation of the ‘workings of this government’ (the Al Maliki Administration) which Allawi described as “sectarian”.
In related news, on Saturday, US President George Bush phoned (Kurdistan’s) President Barzani…they (the two men) shared their points of view regarding the current situation in Iraq. Barzani confirmed, to Bush, that he (Barzani) is working with Iraq’s leader in order to bring out of its current crisis. Barzani was expected to go to Baghdad, on Sunday, in order to participate in a meeting of ‘top-level’ political leaders.
Sources close to the Kurdistan President’s office said, “Barzani discussed the subject of Allawi joining the ‘four party front’.” [He was referring to the new political front which includes the KDP, PUK, SICI, and Dawa parties.] Fouad Hussein, spokesman for the Kurdistan region’s government, said, “The two sides (Allawi and Barzani) discussed the forming of this ‘fourth front’… which will remain open to fronts from all sides of the political process.”
The sources continued, “Kurdistan’s regional command (group) is working to (convince) Allawi to join this ‘fourth front’.” The ‘fourth front’, which is also known as “The Moderate Front”, is a new political bloc which is ‘supposed to’ include: the two main Kurdish parties (KDP and PUK) plus the SICI and Dawa Parties. This (new) Front is open to accepting other groups, into the Front, if those groups believe in the political process.
Yesterday, an Iraqi List source announced: former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, the leader of the Iraqi List, has ‘requested’ his List’s five Ministers (in Maliki’s Cabinet) to boycott the meetings of the Ministers’ Council… (This boycott is called for) as a condemnation of the ‘workings of this government’ (the Al Maliki Administration) which Allawi described as “sectarian”.
In related news, on Saturday, US President George Bush phoned (Kurdistan’s) President Barzani…they (the two men) shared their points of view regarding the current situation in Iraq. Barzani confirmed, to Bush, that he (Barzani) is working with Iraq’s leader in order to bring out of its current crisis. Barzani was expected to go to Baghdad, on Sunday, in order to participate in a meeting of ‘top-level’ political leaders.
Labels: Ayad Allawi, Dawa party, Four party front, Iraqi Accord Front, KDP, Massoud Barzani, PUK, SICI, The Moderate Front
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
KRG passes draft oil and gas law
Oil, Kurdistan
(Voices of Iraq) - Iraq's Kurdistan parliament passed on Monday the draft law of oil and gas concerning the northern Iraqi region after more than a month of debate. "Kurdistan parliament adopted today all articles concerning the region's oil and gas draft law after a debate that continued for eight extraordinary sessions," Kurdistan MP Ariz Abdullah told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The 62-article-bill was endorsed after amendments were made to some articles, Abdullah said. Meanwhile, the media spokesman for the Kurdistan parliament Tareq Jawhar told VOI "following extensive discussions and crossing out five articles from the oil and gas draft law, the bill was passed in today's session."
The media spokesman added "the House also added two more articles to the adopted draft law concerning allocating part of the oil revenues to save environment and to families of victims killed under the previous regime." The 111-seat-Kurdistan parliament is composed of two major blocs, the Green represented by members of the Talabani-led Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Yellow represented by members of the Barazani-led Kurdistan Democratic Party.
The blocs were named after the colors they adopted during the first general election held in Kurdistan region in 1992. There is also another draft law on oil and gas in the whole country, which expected to be discussed in the Federal parliament in September after it will be back from recess. According to the presented oil draft law to the central parliament, there should be no contradiction between the oil law, if passed by the central parliament, and that adopted by regions, otherwise the law adopted by the Iraqi House will be the effective.
The draft oil and gas law for the management of oil resources is considered one of the most controversial issues in Iraq, and there are differences among political blocs on the law regarding the equitable distribution of revenue. The law, if approved by parliament, will give Iraqi and foreign investors the right to set up establishments and oil refineries and use them for 50 years.
Most of Iraq's known oil reserves are located in the Shiite-dominated south and the Kurdish north. Iraq sits on the world's third-largest oil reserves and officials have sought, since last year, to finalize the draft law. The law is vital for attracting foreign investment to Iraq, to boost its oil output and rebuild its economy. The Kurdistan regional government has signed several agreements with foreign companies regarding investments in the oil sector.
The 62-article-bill was endorsed after amendments were made to some articles, Abdullah said. Meanwhile, the media spokesman for the Kurdistan parliament Tareq Jawhar told VOI "following extensive discussions and crossing out five articles from the oil and gas draft law, the bill was passed in today's session."
The media spokesman added "the House also added two more articles to the adopted draft law concerning allocating part of the oil revenues to save environment and to families of victims killed under the previous regime." The 111-seat-Kurdistan parliament is composed of two major blocs, the Green represented by members of the Talabani-led Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Yellow represented by members of the Barazani-led Kurdistan Democratic Party.
The blocs were named after the colors they adopted during the first general election held in Kurdistan region in 1992. There is also another draft law on oil and gas in the whole country, which expected to be discussed in the Federal parliament in September after it will be back from recess. According to the presented oil draft law to the central parliament, there should be no contradiction between the oil law, if passed by the central parliament, and that adopted by regions, otherwise the law adopted by the Iraqi House will be the effective.
The draft oil and gas law for the management of oil resources is considered one of the most controversial issues in Iraq, and there are differences among political blocs on the law regarding the equitable distribution of revenue. The law, if approved by parliament, will give Iraqi and foreign investors the right to set up establishments and oil refineries and use them for 50 years.
Most of Iraq's known oil reserves are located in the Shiite-dominated south and the Kurdish north. Iraq sits on the world's third-largest oil reserves and officials have sought, since last year, to finalize the draft law. The law is vital for attracting foreign investment to Iraq, to boost its oil output and rebuild its economy. The Kurdistan regional government has signed several agreements with foreign companies regarding investments in the oil sector.
Labels: draft oil law, KDP, KRG, PUK
Friday, August 03, 2007
Islamic Group of Kurdistan suggest Sunnis participate in political alliance
Politics
(Kurdish Globe) - The head of the Islamic Group of Kurdistan (IGK) asks that Sunnis participate in any alliance among Kurds and Shiites. Ali Bapir, head of the IGK, said that the Council of Political Parties of Kurdistan does not agree that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) should establish a moderate alliance only with the Shiites.
The reason, according to Bapir, is that "the Shiites' situation is not good and other parties may be suspect of this alliance." The Council of Political Parties of Kurdistan consists of six members, but it still doesn't contain any Turkmen or Kaldo-Assyrian parties. A member of Kurdistan Parliament, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that due to internal problems, the Turkmen and Kaldo-Assyrians have failed to elect their representatives for the council.
Dr. Fuad Hussein, head of Kurdistan Region's Presidency Office, stated that there is a plan to invite the Iraqi Islamic Party in case any new alliance is established. Meanwhile, Mohammed Faraj, a member of the political bureau of Kurdistan Islamic Union, whose party is a member of the Council of Political Parties, showed his unawareness about the content of the plan and said that they haven't seen the project yet.
A few months ago, Massoud Barzani, regional president of Kurdistan, headed a delegation to Baghdad, where he met with some parties that participate in the Iraqi government alongside Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi President. According to Hussein, the history of the issue dates back to that series of meetings and that has resumed.
"For the purpose of establishing this alliance, until now negotiations have been made with the Supreme Council of the Iraqi Revolution, Da'wa Party," Dr. Hussein said. "There are efforts to negotiate with the Islamic Party of Iraq." Stating that these plans have yet to be implemented, Dr. Hussein refuted that the former Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari's recent visit to Kurdistan was for that purpose. Jaafari, who is head of the Da'wa Party, visited Kurdistan Region in mid-July and met the political leadership of the region.
During his post as the Prime Minster of Iraq, Ibrahim Jaafari was accused of hindering the implementation of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, which is about normalizing the situations in Kirkuk and other Arabized areas of the country and organizing a referendum at the end of this year. Allegedly, this very reason made the Kurds turn their backs on Jaffari.
Kurds attach a great importance to Article 140, since they hope the oil-rich city of Kirkuk again becomes part of Kurdistan Region. The referendum would be to decide whether people of Kirkuk are willing to be part of Kurdistan or not.
The reason, according to Bapir, is that "the Shiites' situation is not good and other parties may be suspect of this alliance." The Council of Political Parties of Kurdistan consists of six members, but it still doesn't contain any Turkmen or Kaldo-Assyrian parties. A member of Kurdistan Parliament, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that due to internal problems, the Turkmen and Kaldo-Assyrians have failed to elect their representatives for the council.
Dr. Fuad Hussein, head of Kurdistan Region's Presidency Office, stated that there is a plan to invite the Iraqi Islamic Party in case any new alliance is established. Meanwhile, Mohammed Faraj, a member of the political bureau of Kurdistan Islamic Union, whose party is a member of the Council of Political Parties, showed his unawareness about the content of the plan and said that they haven't seen the project yet.
A few months ago, Massoud Barzani, regional president of Kurdistan, headed a delegation to Baghdad, where he met with some parties that participate in the Iraqi government alongside Jalal Talabani, the Iraqi President. According to Hussein, the history of the issue dates back to that series of meetings and that has resumed.
"For the purpose of establishing this alliance, until now negotiations have been made with the Supreme Council of the Iraqi Revolution, Da'wa Party," Dr. Hussein said. "There are efforts to negotiate with the Islamic Party of Iraq." Stating that these plans have yet to be implemented, Dr. Hussein refuted that the former Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari's recent visit to Kurdistan was for that purpose. Jaafari, who is head of the Da'wa Party, visited Kurdistan Region in mid-July and met the political leadership of the region.
During his post as the Prime Minster of Iraq, Ibrahim Jaafari was accused of hindering the implementation of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution, which is about normalizing the situations in Kirkuk and other Arabized areas of the country and organizing a referendum at the end of this year. Allegedly, this very reason made the Kurds turn their backs on Jaffari.
Kurds attach a great importance to Article 140, since they hope the oil-rich city of Kirkuk again becomes part of Kurdistan Region. The referendum would be to decide whether people of Kirkuk are willing to be part of Kurdistan or not.
Labels: Ali Bapir, Council of Political Parties of Kurdistan, Dawa party, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, IGK, Islamic Group of Kurdistan, Kaldo-Assyrians, KDP, PUK, Shiite Turkmen
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
KDP, PUK agree on security accord
Politics
(RFE/RL) - Iraq's two main Kurdish parties -- the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan led by President Talabani and the Kurdistan Democratic Party headed by Mas'ud Barzani -- have agreed on a security accord, Al-Sharqiyah television reported on July 28. Talabani said details of the arrangement will be released soon, and stressed that the agreement will not marginalize other, smaller Kurdish parties. He said the agreement will instead help foster stronger relations between various Kurdish forces and parties. Regarding the possibility of a Turkish military incursion into northern Iraq, Barzani said, "We hope that the Turkish Justice and Development party's victory in the latest parliamentary elections will assist in bolstering friendship and good neighborly relations between us and Turkey, and end tensions in the area."
Friday, July 27, 2007
PUK, KDP fall out over draft oil law
Oil, Politics, Kurdistan
Azzaman - The two main Kurdish factions ruling northern Iraq are on collision course regarding the way to approach the controversial oil draft law. The differences surfaced in a parliamentary session during which deputies representing the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, a faction led by President Jalal Talabani, left the assembly in protest.
The 111-member Kurdish parliament was debating the draft and the legislators of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Massoud Barzan, current head of the Kurdish region, wanted to push for its approval. The draft has yet to be approved by the Iraqi parliament but no date has been set for its debate in Baghdad amid mounting criticism of some of its terms.
PUK deputies and leaders fear the approval of the law while it is still debated by the central government might strain relations with Baghdad. While KDP officials say they need to pass the legislation so that they will not be bound by Iraqi parliament’s amendments to the draft law. But any contradiction between the two versions is certain to plunge in the country into a constitutional crisis.
The row comes as the Iraqi parliament has approved another draft law which permits foreign companies to construct refineries in the country. The Kurds have already defied the central government by letting foreign firms explore for oil and build small-scale refineries in their semi-independent region.
Oil has become a sensitive and divisive issue in Iraq as the country’s various ethnic and sectarian groups vie to have a say in the collection and distribution of royalties as well as exploration. Iraq has massive oil riches, estimated at 115 billion barrels of proven reserves. The country’s most prolific oil fields are situation in the south where more than 60 percent of reserves lies.
Other massive oil fields are to be found in the region of the disputed city of Kirkuk which the Kurds would like to add to their enclave. The central part of the country where the Iraqi Sunnis dominate is among the country’s poorest in reserves. The Sunnis now make the backbone of anti-U.S. resistance in Iraq.
The 111-member Kurdish parliament was debating the draft and the legislators of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Massoud Barzan, current head of the Kurdish region, wanted to push for its approval. The draft has yet to be approved by the Iraqi parliament but no date has been set for its debate in Baghdad amid mounting criticism of some of its terms.
PUK deputies and leaders fear the approval of the law while it is still debated by the central government might strain relations with Baghdad. While KDP officials say they need to pass the legislation so that they will not be bound by Iraqi parliament’s amendments to the draft law. But any contradiction between the two versions is certain to plunge in the country into a constitutional crisis.
The row comes as the Iraqi parliament has approved another draft law which permits foreign companies to construct refineries in the country. The Kurds have already defied the central government by letting foreign firms explore for oil and build small-scale refineries in their semi-independent region.
Oil has become a sensitive and divisive issue in Iraq as the country’s various ethnic and sectarian groups vie to have a say in the collection and distribution of royalties as well as exploration. Iraq has massive oil riches, estimated at 115 billion barrels of proven reserves. The country’s most prolific oil fields are situation in the south where more than 60 percent of reserves lies.
Other massive oil fields are to be found in the region of the disputed city of Kirkuk which the Kurds would like to add to their enclave. The central part of the country where the Iraqi Sunnis dominate is among the country’s poorest in reserves. The Sunnis now make the backbone of anti-U.S. resistance in Iraq.
Labels: draft oil law, Jalal Talabani, KDP, Massoud Barzani, PUK
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Mass funerals in Kirkuk after triple bombing killed 80
Security
(Al Jazeera) - The northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk has held mass funerals after a lorry and two car bombs killed up to 80 people.Dozens of men carried the bodies of their relatives from morgues in lorries and taxis on Tuesday. The burials came a day after a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle near the headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
Minutes later after the attack, a second bomber struck the Haseer market, 700 metres away. Kirkuk residents said that the carnage was aimed at splitting the city and triggering sectarian violence. "The explosions are meant to incite sectarianism among the people of Kirkuk," said Sheikh Ismail al-Hadidi, a Sunni tribesman. The massive lorry bomb carved a huge crater ringed with smoking wreckage, while the streets of Kirkuk were deserted as pedestrians kept indoors, the AFP news agency reported.
Minutes later after the attack, a second bomber struck the Haseer market, 700 metres away. Kirkuk residents said that the carnage was aimed at splitting the city and triggering sectarian violence. "The explosions are meant to incite sectarianism among the people of Kirkuk," said Sheikh Ismail al-Hadidi, a Sunni tribesman. The massive lorry bomb carved a huge crater ringed with smoking wreckage, while the streets of Kirkuk were deserted as pedestrians kept indoors, the AFP news agency reported.
Police vehicles patrolled the city in a bid to deter further attacks. "The deployment of police will give us some comfort," said Omar Abdullah, a baker and one of the few local shopkeepers to open after the blasts. "However, the explosions have left no work for me," he said. Kirkuk's policemen were shocked by the blasts. Aras Ghafour, a policeman, said: "Yesterday's catastrophe was unprecedented. The charred and mutilated bodies stunned us. We are human beings, after all." "What should we do when a bomber wants to kill himself and innocent people?" "The challenge is big and the situation is serious," he said.
More than two dozen of the 185 wounded are in a serious condition and were transferred to the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah for treatment. A joint statement by Ryan Crocker, US ambassador to Iraq and general David Petraeus, the head of US troops, said: "This attack is another sad example of the nature of the enemy and its use of indiscriminate violence to kill innocent citizens."
Since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, Kirkuk’s political status has been contested by the city's Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen. Tensions have heightened in recent months ahead of a possible referendum by the end of the year to decide whether Kirkuk will join the Kurdish region. The city's Turkmen and Arab communities have demanded that it be postponed until land claims can be settled.
Saddam Hussein tried to 'Arabise' the northern region in the 1970s.Thousands of Kurds were driven from their homes and Arabs from around Iraq moved into the region with land grants and cash payouts. In 2003, Kurds streamed back into Kirkuk and now control the local government and much of the security forces.
Saddam Hussein tried to 'Arabise' the northern region in the 1970s.Thousands of Kurds were driven from their homes and Arabs from around Iraq moved into the region with land grants and cash payouts. In 2003, Kurds streamed back into Kirkuk and now control the local government and much of the security forces.
Labels: Kirkuk, PUK, suicide car bomber
Monday, July 16, 2007
Twin car bombings kill 80 in Kirkuk
Security
(AP) - Twin suicide car bombings exploded within 20 minutes of each other in the northern city of Kirkuk on Monday, killing at least 80 people and wounding around 150 in attacks targeting a Kurdish political office and ripping through an outdoor market, police said. The attacks began around noon when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-packed truck near the concrete blast walls of the headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the party of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.
The explosion blasted a 10-yard-deep crater in the pavement and collapsed part of the roof of the one-story PUK office. Outside the offices, the burnt shells of more than two dozen vehicles were in the street. Soon after, the second bomber attacked the Haseer market, 700 yards away, destroying stalls and cars, said Kirkuk police Brig. Sarhat Qadir.
The outdoor Haseer market, with stalls of vegetable and fruit sellers, is frequented by Kurds in Kirkuk, a city where tensions are high between the Kurdish and Arab populations. At least 80 people were killed and around 140 wounded, said police Brig. Burhan Tayeb Taha. The attack came just over a week after one of the Iraq conflict's deadliest suicide attacks hit a village about 50 miles south of Kirkuk, killing more than 160 people.
Iraqi officials have said Sunni insurgents are moving further north to carry out attacks, fleeing U.S. offensives in and around Baghdad, including in the city of Baqouba, a stronghold of extremists on the capital's northwestern doorstep. The month-old sweeps aim to pacify the capital and boost the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
The explosion blasted a 10-yard-deep crater in the pavement and collapsed part of the roof of the one-story PUK office. Outside the offices, the burnt shells of more than two dozen vehicles were in the street. Soon after, the second bomber attacked the Haseer market, 700 yards away, destroying stalls and cars, said Kirkuk police Brig. Sarhat Qadir.
The outdoor Haseer market, with stalls of vegetable and fruit sellers, is frequented by Kurds in Kirkuk, a city where tensions are high between the Kurdish and Arab populations. At least 80 people were killed and around 140 wounded, said police Brig. Burhan Tayeb Taha. The attack came just over a week after one of the Iraq conflict's deadliest suicide attacks hit a village about 50 miles south of Kirkuk, killing more than 160 people.
Iraqi officials have said Sunni insurgents are moving further north to carry out attacks, fleeing U.S. offensives in and around Baghdad, including in the city of Baqouba, a stronghold of extremists on the capital's northwestern doorstep. The month-old sweeps aim to pacify the capital and boost the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
COMMENT: Retribution attacks are likely to increase in the Kirkuk area during the run-up to Article 140 of the constitution which states a referendum will be held on the status of the oil-rich, multi-ethnic Kirkuk, which will determine whether it will become part of Kurdistan or Iraq. The referendum was supposed to be held in September but the central Baghdad government and the Kurdistan Regional Government are in dispute over whether to hold it now or delay it.
Although insurgent activity can never be ruled out in order to stoke sectarian violence, it is possible the bombings were carried out by the other minorities in Kirkuk who do not want to become part of Kurdistan. However, the attack does bear the hall marks of Sunni insurgents. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Haseer market, Kirkuk, PUK, suicide car bomber, Sunni insurgents
Monday, July 02, 2007
Sadr Movement Rejects New Political Entity
Politics
(Al Mashriq Newspaper) - 1 JUL - The Sadr Movement has rejected the new political front project that consists of SICI, Dawa Party, PUK, and the KDP. The Sadr Movement Parliament chief, Nassar Al Rubaie said, “This alliance will fail due to the objection of many entities and Parliament members. The current Iraqi situation is not the right time for marginalization. This marginalization will damage the political process. These alliances are based on narrow and private interests. There are old alliances that should be respected by others. These new alliances intend to divide the old alliances and start new alliances by marginalizing others.”
Labels: Dawa party, KDP, Nassar Al Rubaie, new political front, PUK, Sadr movement, SICI
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
KRG Prime Minister may not run another term
Kurdistan, Politics
(KurdishMedia) - Nechirvan Barzani, the KRG Prime Minister, stated that he may not stay in his post as the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Prime Minister. Mr Barzani was responding to the questions by journalists during a press conference in Arbil, the capital of southern Kurdistan, on Monday. Mr Barzani stated that the post of the prime minister would go to an individual from the PUK, led by Jalal Talabani, from next year. However, Mr Barzani did not elaborate on his next post or whether he would stay in the administration or not.
Labels: KRG, Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister, PUK
Monday, June 25, 2007
PUK accused of attempting to kidnap PKK leaders for Turkey
Politics, Security
(KurdishMedia) - The Pro-PKK media and Kurdish independent sources have accused the PUK, led by Jalal Talabani the current Iraqi president, of attempting to kidnap two PKK leaders and handing them over to the Turkish authorities.
The sources state that the PUK authorities, which is part of the KRG, has organised a meeting for two of the PKK leaders, PKK co-president Murad Karialan and Cemil Bayik, with the Turkish officials under pretext of negotiating between two sides. However the PUK, the sources claim, has also arranged for the Turkish intelligence services MIT to attack the meeting and kidnap the PKK leaders.
At the same time, MIT with the help of the PUK brought a helicopter to southern Kurdistan in pieces in order to be put together and to be used in kidnapping the PKK leaders, as Turkey cannot fly over southern Kurdistan’s territory.
Neither the KRG, led by Massuad Barzani, nor the PUK have commented on the allegation. Recently the president of KRG Massuad Barzani stated that even if he orders, the peshmerga forces would not open fire of the PKK rebels. KurdishMedia.com could not verify the story from its own independent sources.
The sources state that the PUK authorities, which is part of the KRG, has organised a meeting for two of the PKK leaders, PKK co-president Murad Karialan and Cemil Bayik, with the Turkish officials under pretext of negotiating between two sides. However the PUK, the sources claim, has also arranged for the Turkish intelligence services MIT to attack the meeting and kidnap the PKK leaders.
At the same time, MIT with the help of the PUK brought a helicopter to southern Kurdistan in pieces in order to be put together and to be used in kidnapping the PKK leaders, as Turkey cannot fly over southern Kurdistan’s territory.
Neither the KRG, led by Massuad Barzani, nor the PUK have commented on the allegation. Recently the president of KRG Massuad Barzani stated that even if he orders, the peshmerga forces would not open fire of the PKK rebels. KurdishMedia.com could not verify the story from its own independent sources.
Labels: Cemil Bayik, MIT, Murad Karialan, PKK, PUK, Turkey
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Kurds call for adoption of their national reconciliation plan for other parts of Iraq
Security
(Voices of Iraq) - A member of the Kurdistan Coalition parliamentary bloc called on Monday political parties and blocs to adopt Kurdistan's national reconciliation experiment, considering it valid for application in other parts of Iraq. "It was an initiative from the two main parties in Kurdistan: Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (PDK), which showed flexibility and presented different kind of concessions," legislator Nouzad Refaat Saleh told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
"The initiative succeeded in Kurdistan thanks to the effort made by the two major parties in the region," he added. The Iraqi government will hold a special conference for political parties and blocs within the national reconciliation project next month.
The government had held two conferences related to the national reconciliation, the first was for the national forces and political movements and the second for the former Iraqi army's senior officers."The reconciliation conference, to be held in June, is a good initiative, but we hope to be fruitful and positive," Saleh also said.
"We hope that all participants would determine their actual position regarding the Iraqi cause and cooperate to provide the best for Iraqis," the Kurdish lawmaker noted. "All parties have to mild their positions and to be more flexible for the good of Iraqi people," he emphasized. He described talks between Iran and U.S. regarding the situation in Iraq at the end of the running month as "fragile", noting that disputes between Iran and U.S. are deeply rooted and agreement between two sides vis-à-vis the Iraqi issue is difficult.
There were two administrations since 1991 until 2006 in Iraq's Kurdistan region. The first administration was based in Arbil under the present Iraq's Kurdistan region while the other was in Sulaimaniya under the present Iraq President Jalal al-Talabani. Last year, the two major Kurdish parties agreed to unite the two administrations under one government with Arbil be the capital of the region. Iraq's Kurdistan region comprises provinces of Arbil, Sulaimaniya and Duhuk in northern Iraq.
"The initiative succeeded in Kurdistan thanks to the effort made by the two major parties in the region," he added. The Iraqi government will hold a special conference for political parties and blocs within the national reconciliation project next month.
The government had held two conferences related to the national reconciliation, the first was for the national forces and political movements and the second for the former Iraqi army's senior officers."The reconciliation conference, to be held in June, is a good initiative, but we hope to be fruitful and positive," Saleh also said.
"We hope that all participants would determine their actual position regarding the Iraqi cause and cooperate to provide the best for Iraqis," the Kurdish lawmaker noted. "All parties have to mild their positions and to be more flexible for the good of Iraqi people," he emphasized. He described talks between Iran and U.S. regarding the situation in Iraq at the end of the running month as "fragile", noting that disputes between Iran and U.S. are deeply rooted and agreement between two sides vis-à-vis the Iraqi issue is difficult.
There were two administrations since 1991 until 2006 in Iraq's Kurdistan region. The first administration was based in Arbil under the present Iraq's Kurdistan region while the other was in Sulaimaniya under the present Iraq President Jalal al-Talabani. Last year, the two major Kurdish parties agreed to unite the two administrations under one government with Arbil be the capital of the region. Iraq's Kurdistan region comprises provinces of Arbil, Sulaimaniya and Duhuk in northern Iraq.
Labels: KDP, national reconciliation project, PUK
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Al-Maliki delays cabinet reshuffle as Fadela declares support for Kirkuk to pass to the Kurds
Politics
(Al Sabaah) - Adviser to Prime Minister al-Maliki, Mariem Raees, said the cause of al-Maliki's delay in declaring a cabinet reshuffle was because parliament blocs have suggested inefficient candidates. Raess stressed that the security ministries have been excluded from the reshuffle due to the Baghdad security plan.
Meanwhile, the Patriotic Union Kurdistan (PUK) issued a statement that a delegation of the Islamic Fadhila Party have expressed their support to execute article 140 of the Iraqi constitution to hand Kirkuk over to Kurdistan.
Labels: Article 140, cabinet reshuffle, Fadhela party, Kirkuk, PUK
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
PUK, KDP offices in Mosul threatened
Politics, Security
(VOI) - Ninewa police said on Tuesday it had received phone calls from local residents about warnings from unknown armed groups to evacuate their homes near the Kurdish parties' offices after they threatened to blow up the offices in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. "Ninewa police operations room received today scores of phone calls from people residing near the Kurdish parties' offices in Mosul, where they confirmed they had received warnings to evacuate their homes," Brigadier Abdul-Karim al-Juburi, director of the operations room, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
He said, "the police command took precautions and intensively deployed police patrols to foil any attempt to violate security in Mosul. "Earlier, local residents told VOI "masked gunmen told residents this afternoon to leave our homes (near the Kurdish parties' offices) because they intend to blow the offices up." "We left our homes after we realized that the threats were serious," a local resident told VOI over the phone. There are many offices for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, led by Iraqi President Jalal al-Talabani, and for the Kurdistan Democratic Party, led by Iraq's Kurdistan President Massoud al-Barzani.
Labels: Brigadier Abdul-Karim al-Juburi, KDP, Mosul, PUK
Thursday, March 22, 2007
PUK office in Mosul attacked
Security, Politics
(Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed three and wounded 20 on Wednesday when he blew his truck up at the headquarters of a Kurdish party in the northern city of Mosul, police said. Witnesses said the bomber drove his truck into the headquarters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), led by the Kurdish leader Masoud Barazani, as Kurds were celebrating the spring festival of Nawruz.
Labels: Massoud Barzani, Mosul, PUK, VBIED
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Mortar attack on PUK office in Mosul
Security, Politics
(VOI) Unidentified gunmen on Monday killed the director of the state-owned water supply company in Badoush, northwest Ninawa province, while a guard for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Mosul, 402km north of Baghdad, was severely wounded during a mortar attack, a police source in Ninawa province said. "Unidentified gunmen, driving a modern car, opened fire against the director of the water supply company, Abdullah Mohammad Ahmed, while he was leaving his office in Badoush, killing him on the spot," the source told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI)."The attackers fled the scene to an unidentified place," he added."
The headquarters of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) in Mosul was hit by two mortar shells on Monday, leaving a guard severely wounded," an official source from the PUK in Mosul also said. PUK, one of two main Kurdish parties in Iraq, is led by the Iraqi President Jalal al-Talabani. The wounded man was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. Mosul is the main city of the Sunni predominantly Ninawa province.
Labels: Badoush, Mosul, Ninewa Province, PUK
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Corruption out of control in Kurdistan
Corruption
(Kurdish Media) The head of Kurdistan Toilers Party Mr Qadir Aziz has told Kurdish independent weekly Medya that if the situation in south Kurdistan continues without a radical improvement, he thinks there will be major uprising against the rule of the two dominant parties. He says: "What is happening in Kurdistan has gone far beyond corruption. What is happening now is the official control of the two parties over all the wealth and property of people."
He says: "Corruption is something that happens discreetly. But what is happening in Kurdistan is a stark aggression of the two parties against people and their property." He adds: "The appropriation of so many public buildings, property and land by political parties and their ownership of innumerable companies, hotels and people's property have gone far beyond corruption. He says that he does not believe that KDP and PUK can improve the current situation. There will be a social breakdown. And then only the Islamic parties will exploit and benefit from this situation. "This is already happening", he says.
He says: "Corruption is something that happens discreetly. But what is happening in Kurdistan is a stark aggression of the two parties against people and their property." He adds: "The appropriation of so many public buildings, property and land by political parties and their ownership of innumerable companies, hotels and people's property have gone far beyond corruption. He says that he does not believe that KDP and PUK can improve the current situation. There will be a social breakdown. And then only the Islamic parties will exploit and benefit from this situation. "This is already happening", he says.
Labels: corruption, KDP, Kurdistan, PUK
