Peshmerga minister says forces ready for parliamentary elections

ARBIL / IraqiNews.com: The peshmerga minister in Iraq’s Kurdistan region on Monday said that security forces are able to achieve security during parliamentary elections in the region, dismissing the need for foreign troops to secure the polls. “The security situation in Kurdistan is very good. Peshmerga, police and the Asayesh (Kurdish) forces can provide security during parliamentary elections…We are on the alert,” Minister Sheikh Jaafar told IraqiNews.com news agency. When asked about the use of U.S. forces to secure the elections, the minister said that the issue has not been discussed with concerned bodies thus far. SS (P) 1