Chief prosecutor of northern disputed town resigns

DIALA /IraqiNews.com: A chief prosecutor of Jalawlaa criminal court on Sunday announced his resignation, noting the decision was made to protest Ministry of Interior’s (MOI) intervention in his work. “I submitted my resignation to the MOI,” Captain Farhad Refaat told IraqiNews.com. Jalawla is a part of the disputed town of Khanaqin, which saw a strife between the central Iraqi government and Kurdistan’s regional authorities over its control. “I faced many obstacles and problems that were created by MOI’s personnel during the last two months”, he said, “They had prevented me from carrying out my duty”. The conflict comes in a rising tension environment between Arabs who compose the file- and- ranks of security forces in Jalawla, while Kurds hold office jobs in the northern district. “I decided to resign because I am tired of those interventions and obstacles” he added. “What I faced was due to the fact that I am an ethnic Kurd, and occupy such a position,” he stressed. A number of Kurdish officials complained they are pressured in disputed towns’ posts.   “This is part of the campaign to make Kurdish officials in areas like Jalawlaa flee their positions,” he explained. “Two warrants were issued to arrest me last month without set the charges,” he asserted. MH (S)/AM 1