"It is my constitutional duty to work for the benefit of the citizens and to protect our national unity that came under threat of fragmentation as a result of the referendum that was organized by the Kurdish region," Abadi said in a statement on Monday, Al Jazeera news channel reported.
"The referendum came at a time where the country is fighting against terrorism that has come in the form of ISIL. We tried to urge (the Kurds) not to violate the constitution and to focus on fighting ISIL, but they did not listen… They chose their personal interests over Iraq’s interests."
The prime minister further assured Kirkuk's residents that their safety was Iraq's priority, while calling on the Kurdish forces to align themselves with the federal army.
"And we are only performing our duty in keeping the city safe for Iraqis (of) various factions. We urge all citizens to cooperate with our heroic armed forces… in implementing security in the area.
"We call on the Peshmerga forces to perform their duties under the central command under the Iraqi armed forces."
The latest incidents come amid simmering tensions between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over a recent controversial referendum on the secession of the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region.
The plebiscite took place on September 25, sparking strong objection from Baghdad. Iraq’s neighbors and the international community also voiced concerns about the repercussions of the vote, which was only supported by Israel.
Kirkuk, with some 10 percent of Iraq’s oil reserves, has long been contested by Baghdad and Erbil.
(Tasnim)
16/10/17
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Iraqi government forces have entered central Kirkuk, residents say, after taking key installations outside the disputed city from Kurdish fighters.
ReplyDeleteWitnesses told the BBC they saw federal forces entering the provincial government building.
Clashes were reported south of Kirkuk earlier in the day, while thousands of residents fled the city.
It comes three weeks after the Kurdistan region held a controversial independence referendum.
While Kirkuk is not inside Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdish voters inside the city were allowed to take part.
Iraq's prime minister has said the vote - in which residents of Kurdish-controlled areas, including Kirkuk, overwhelmingly backed secession - was unconstitutional.
bbc
The Iraqi government forces have taken full control of Kirkuk, Al Jazeera and Sky News Arabia report, citing the central government in Baghdad.
ReplyDeleteThe Iraqi flag has been raised over the disputed city of Kirkuk and other Kurdish-controlled areas, on Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi’s orders.
The “attack” on Kurdish-controlled Kirkuk by Iraqi troops is “a flagrant declaration of war against the nation of Kurdistan,” the Peshmerga General Command said in a statement earlier, as cited by Rudaw.
rt
Amid the ongoing tensions between Iraqi military forces and Peshmerga in Kirkuk, the federal troops managed to establish control over the key region's facilities and governing bodies...
ReplyDeleteThe Iraqi federal police managed to capture the Kirkuk administration building without any fight, a source told Sputnik.
According to the source, the majority of officials of the administration, including its governor Najmaddin Karim, left on Monday morning in the direction of the territory of the Kurdish autonomy.
"Forces of the federal police entered the building of the provincial administration without any resistance," said a member of the provincial administration who was familiar with the situation.
According to him, the federal forces took control of "other important objects" in the city.
Media reports claim that Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi ordered to raise Iraqi flag over Kirkuk and other disputed areas under the control of Kurds.
sputnik
El vice primer ministro turco, Bekir Bozdag, anunció en una reunión del Gabinete que su país cierra el espacio aéreo para el Kurdistán iraquí...
ReplyDeletePoco antes el Consejo de Seguridad de Turquía, en el que participó el presidente de Turquía, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, recomendó que esa medida fuera tomada.
"El Gobierno tomó la decisión de cerrar el espacio aéreo de Turquía para Irak del Norte", dijo Bozdag en una rueda de prensa.
mundo.sputniknews.com