MP: Kurdish forces reduce its deployment in Kirkuk after Maliki’s visit

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) MP, Yasin al-Ubaidi, of the Iraqiya Slate revealed that “The Kurdish forces reduced its deployment in Kirkuk after the visit of the Premier, Nouri al-Maliki, on the last week.”

Speaking to Iraqi News (IraqiNews.com), he said “The Kurdish forces including Asayish and Pishmirga decreased their movement in Kirkuk roads and returned to their headquarters after Maliki’s visit.”

“Before Maliki’s visit, the Kurdish forces were conducting arrest campaigns and transferring the detainees to Kurdistan Region and some times kill them inside their headquarters to pressurize the Central Government,” he stressed.

He called “To increase the number of the Iraqi Army elements in Kirkuk to sustain security of forming an Operation Command for the province as in other provinces with considering the balance among its communities.”

Kirkuk province, which is 250 KM far from Baghdad, is inhabited by various communities and sects and considered among the disputed area between the Central Government and Kurdistani Regional Government.

The Premier, Nouri al-Maliki held the session of the Council of Ministers in Kirkuk province, discussing its needs and problems.

A number of Kurdish MPs described Maliki’s visit to Kirkuk and holding the meeting of the Council of Ministers in the province as “Provocative,” while the Kurdish Ministers within the government boycotted the meeting.