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Kurds take part in new security plan
13.2.2007
By Basil Adas |
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February 13, 2007
Baghdad,- Kurdish troops are being deployed
in Baghdad in a process that is expected to conclude
this week, while three Kurdish military brigades are
heading from Kurdistan territory to Baghdad, Kurdish
military officials confirmed yesterday.
Shaikh Ja'afar Al Barazanji, Kurdistan Peshmargas
forces minister, confirmed Kurdish brigades have
been sent to take part in the new Baghdad security
plan, they will be under the authority of the
central government Iraqi army commander.
"Kurdish brigades are well-trained to fight inside
cities and neighbourhoods, and they will contribute
vigorously in cleansing Baghdad's suburbs of armed
men and outlaws," he told Gulf News.
The growing role of the Kurdish Peshmergas forces
inside the Iraqi capital might be considered
reassuring to the strong Sunni political forces
which accused Iraqi forces of affiliation to Shiite
political parties and involvement in sectarian
violence against Sunni neighbourhoods during the
previous security plans.
Escalation
Also, the US forces distrust the Iraqi Interior
Ministry troops which are accused of allegiance to
Shiite armed militias and Iran.
It was also said that enhancing Kurdish military
coexistence in Baghdad is a US request.
Babakeer Zebari, the Iraqi Army Chief of Staff
headed to the headquarters of Kurdistan President
Massoud Barzani in the Salladin resort, Erbil.
According to information, Zebari asked Barzani to
prepare additional Kurdish military brigades because
the security plan in Baghdad might need them.
Citizens of Adhamyia, the Sunni neighbourhood in
Baghdad which has been besieged by Iraqi-American
troops told Gulf News that Kurdish forces from the
Iraqi army are participating with US troops in
enclosing the neighbourhood which is believed to
include Sunni armed men.
Amer Al Hussaini, a prominent figure in the Shiite
Sadr group, told Gulf News: "Some Kurdish forces are
seen stationed in some entrances of the Sadr Shiite
neighbourhood."
The Kurdish Peshmergas forces which most of the
Iraqi army brigades are formed from, stationed in
Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, amount to 80,000.
This might rise to 120,000 because of the escalation
of security threats in Baghdad and also Turkey's
threats to the federal Kurdistan region regarding
ownership of Kirkuk.
Fadhil Merani, the Kurdistan Democratic Party
secretary, told Gulf News: "The deterioration of any
security plan in Baghdad and other regions means
there will be a critical threat to the presence of
Kurdistan in a unified federal democratic Iraq, and
that is why we support the new security plan in
Baghdad with all of our available resources."
The parliament in Kurdistan is witnessing
disagreement on the issue of sending Kurdish
brigades to Baghdad amid strong pressure from
Kurdish clans, who do not want their sons to be
involved in the sectarian bloody quagmire.
gulf-news com
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