Kurdistan Region-Iraq News in brief  29.1.2010   

January 29, 2010 -  Sulaimaniyah, Erbil-Hewler, Duhok, Kirkuk, Kurdistan Region 'Iraq'

Iranian artillery bombards villages in Qandil area

On Friday, January, 29, 2010, the Iranian artillery bombarded several villages in Qandil mountainous area in Peshdar town and lasted for an hour, but till now the details of the bombardment are unknown. On same day, the Iranian artillery bombarded two villages in the Zharawa district which caused panic among the citizens and led to flee their areas, the damages are unknown yet. According to a source the bombardment is continuing till this moment.

Peshmerga forces are under KRG command

In a statement to al-Hayat newspaper, the Secretary General of the Peshmerga ministry (Kurdistan region Guard Forces) Major General Jabbar Yawir said that these forces are now under the command of the ministry and the Kurdistan Regional Government and there is no authority of any party on them anymore. Yawir also said that everything is going according to what is planned for and there are no political or administrative or leading problems and no party or person objected the unification process of the Peshmerga forces.

MP: Peshmerga is not involve in fighting against Huthis

Firyad Rawanduzi, the spokesman of Kurdistan Alliance bloc in the Iraqi Parliament denied the news that the Peshmerga forces have participated in the fight against the Huthis in Yemen. “These reports are baseless. The Peshmerga is not involved in fighting against Huthis. How the Peshmerga forces can go to Yemen”, Rawanduzi said.

Chemical Ali's death certificate in Halabja monument

Sulaimaniyah: A copy of Chemical Ali's death certificate will be kept in the Halabja Monument, a source said Thursday, and the prosecution's gowns in addition to the judges pen by which the Ali's death sentence was written down have already been promised to the monument. Member of the prosecution in the Halabja chemical attack case in the Iraqi Supreme Criminal Court, Bakir Hama Sadiq told Aknews that they had received a copy of executed Chemical Ali's death certificate from the court. "We will put the document in Halabja Monument for history and for our next generations to see" Hama Sadiq said. The prosecution also promised to present their gowns which they wore during the trials on the case to the monument of the district...Aknews com

Duhok demands $753m for mayoralty projects

Duhok Mayoralty has big projects that require funding of around $753 million, according to a senior official. “We expect that only a small part of the funding will be approved,” Hameed Mohammed Saleh, head of the Duhok Mayoralty, told Aswat al-Iraq news agency on Friday. He said that he is waiting for the final approval in this regard.

Kurdistan president pursues visit to US

Kurdistan Consulate office in Washington held a dinner in honor of Kurdistan Leader Massoud Barzani's visit to the US. Dinner was attended by a number of US political, diplomatic and academic figures. Barzani took the floor to praise the stand of US people and administration that liberated Iraq and Kurdistan from dictatorship. Kurdistan leader hoped ongoing support from the US to Iraq’s people in building a multiple, federal and democratic country. US Vice President Joseph Biden held a lunch feast in honor of Kurdistan leader Massoud Barzani and the delegation accompanying him. Barzani visited the Pentagon and met with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates. Both sides discussed the general situation in Iraq and Kurdistan and agreed on further coordination between the US and Kurdistan to help stop terrorism and achieve stability in Iraq. alsumaria tv

Talabani will remain in Kurdistan during election campaign

Sulaimaniyah: A high-level official at the Sulaimaniyah-based Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has revealed that the Iraqi president, Jalal Talabani, will remain in Kurdistan Region during the upcoming Iraqi election campaign. "Our political bureau will make the decision on whether Talabani is needed here or elsewhere," said Arif Rushdie, the member of PUK's political bureau, exclusively to Rudaw. Rushdie also noted that Talabani will have big effect on the voters view in Kurdistan Region and make them vote for the Kurdistan Alliance (KA) list. "Without a doubt…he is very crucial for Kurdistan. During this period Mam Jalal (a popular Kurdish nickname for the president, meaning 'Uncle Jalal') will only go to Baghdad (the Iraqi capital) if he has something important", he concluded. Rudaw net

Sulaimaniyah preparing for electoral campaigns

Sulaimaniyah: Kurdistan's Sulaimaniyah province, of the three provinces of the region, will have lion's share of parliamentary seats making it the ground of sharp electoral campaigns for the upcoming Iraqi parliamentary polls. Observers believe the campaigns, which will begin one month prior to the vote, will see heated contests between the Iraqi lists. And Kurdistan will be no exception to that especially, unlike the previous poll, when a number of Kurdish lists will contest for wining as many seats as possible out of the seats dedicated to the three provinces of the region. Sulaimaniyah province was heated up during the Kurdish Parliament polls. It was named "the hottest province" after supporters of the parties flooded the streets of the city repeating the mottos of their parties all day. The three provinces of Kurdistan have 41 seats in the Iraqi parliament, out of which 17 are allocated to Sulaimaniyah. I.9 million eligible voters from Sulaimaniyah will cast their ballots in 482 voting centers in the province on March 7, 2010...Aknews com

U.S. reiterates support for Kurdistan region

In his official tour to America, the Iraqi Kurdistan Region's President, Massoud Barzani met with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday to discuss US long-term partnership in Iraq. This came during Mr. Barzani's tour of high-level meetings in Washington who visited there in response to an official invitation from U.S President Barack Obama. Their third meeting in seven months serves as "an opportunity to reiterate the US support for the KRGs security and prosperity within a unified and stable Iraq" confirm commitment to long-term strategic partnership with Iraq, and help ease disputes over the KRG and Baghdad governments, such as the long-running dispute boundaries and oil revenues, the Pentagon spokesman, Geoff Morrell said in a press briefing. Barzani met with President Barack Obama and several of his top cabinet members including Vice-President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during his visit this week. Kurdsat TV

President Barzani meets Kerry, McCain and Liberman

In his official tour to America, the Kurdistan Region's President Masoud Barzani was received during two separate meetings by John Kerry chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in the US Congress on the one hand; besides, by John McCain and Joseph Liberman on the other hand. During the meetings, they expressed their delight for President Barzani’s visit to the United States, reaffirming commitment to consolidate relations between Kurdistan Region and U.S. in particular, and with Iraq in general. They also touched on the developments that have been made in Kurdistan Region in all areas.

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