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KIRKUK, Iraq (Reuters) - It has the potential to
be one of Iraq's richest cities --but also to be its
most divided.
Kirkuk sits among vast oil fields in northern Iraq,
many of which have yet to be exploited. But the city
is claimed by three ethnic groups -- Kurds, Arabs
and Turkmen -- and has seen an alarming increase in
violence and tension, officials say.
In the past two weeks, leading figures in each of
the three communities have been assassinated and
rival groups are trading accusations, stoking fears
of further bloodshed.
An Arab tribal leader, Nayif al-Jubouri, was killed
outside his home on Friday night by gunmen who
sprayed him with bullets while he was watering his
garden. The killing has deepened mistrust and
worsened local political divisions.
Jubouri's family blamed the death on fellow Sunni
Arabs because of his friendly ties to rival Kurdish
parties.
But Mohammed Khalil, the spokesman of an Arab bloc
in the local council, said the killing may have been
carried out by a militia linked to one of Iraq's
main Shi'ite parties.
He said the Badr organisation -- which Sunni Arab
clerics have also blamed for sectarian killings in
Baghdad -- were opposed to Jubouri because he had
ties with the People's Mujahideen, a group that
wants to overthrow Iran's government.
The Badr organisation is linked to the Supreme
Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, a
Shi'ite party that fought Saddam Hussein from exile
in Iran. Badr officials deny any role in
assassinations.
"Rumours like these against a group that made
sacrifices and struggled for Iraq's sake are only an
attempt to plant sectarian strife," said Nihad
Jaafar, a Badr official in Kirkuk.
SADDAM'S LEGACY
During Saddam's rule, Kirkuk was subject to an "Arabisation"
policy aiming to change the ethnic balance of the
strategic oil city by offering Arab migrants homes
and economic incentives.
The plan angered Kurds and Turkmen.
After the U.S-led invasion, Kurds returned to the
city in large numbers and have had an ever-growing
influence over the city, to the dismay of Arabs and
Turkmen.
Even though some of those killed in Kirkuk in recent
weeks have been members of Iraq's security forces --
a frequent target for insurgents -- local
politicians have been quick to blame the killings on
rival ethnic blocs fighting for greater influence.
Major General Ahmed al-Barazanchi, a Kurd, and
Hadeer al-Bayati, a Turkmen, were senior police
officials who were gunned down during the past
fortnight. Abdul-Razzaq Ahmed, an Arab army officer,
was also killed.
Public accusations by rival groups are causing
concern among many Kirkuk residents, who in the past
boasted of their co-existence and tolerance of
others.
Munaf Akram, a Turkmen, said Kirkuk had become edgy
after the killings. "I call on all Kirkuk's people
to stand firm in the face of all those seeking
conflict," he said.
Ahmed Haider, an Arab engineer, agreed on the need
for unity.
"The situation in Kirkuk is uncomfortable because
security isn't good enough," he said. "We as
citizens demand the Iraqi government punish all
those seeking to cause internal strife."
Reuters
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