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Iraq's government warns Iran over shelling
of Kurdistan region
29.8.2007
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August 29, 2007
BAGHDAD, -- Iraq's government on Tuesday
demanded Iran stop shelling Kurdish areas inside
Kurdistan region, Iraq's northeastern border,
warning that relations would be hurt, the Iraqi
Foreign Ministry said.
Iraqi Kurdish officials have complained about
cross-border shelling from neighbouring Iran since
the middle of the month.
Cross-border skirmishes occasionally occur as Iraq's
neighbours Turkey and Iran combat Kurdish separatist
rebels operating from bases in Iraq's mountainous
northern region of Kurdistan.
Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister Mohammed al-Haj Hamoud
summoned the Iranian ambassador on Tuesday to
protest about the shelling, the Foreign Ministry
said in a statement. |
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari |
"The deputy foreign minister demanded the Iranian
side immediately cease these attacks," the statement
said.
"The affair would affect negatively the good
neighbourly relationship between the two countries."
The government in Iraq's largely autonomous
Kurdistan region said on Tuesday that 450 families
from 20 villages along the border had been evacuated
because of shelling.
The Iraqi side of the border area is believed to be
home to Kurdish PJAK militants.. PEJAK (Party for a
Free Life in Kurdistan) , took up arms for self-rule
in the country's mainly Kurdistan province
northwestern of Iran. Half the members of PEJAK are
Kurdish women.
There has been no official comment from Tehran about
the shelling.
Reuters
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