URGENT / UN official in Kirkuk to meet officials

KIRKUK / IraqiNews.com: Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary- General for Iraq (SRSG) Staffan de Mistura on Monday arrived in Kirkuk city to meet with local officials over several issues. “De Mistura and his accompanying delegation arrived today in Kirkuk city. He is expected to meet a number of officials and representatives of political blocs,” a local media source told IraqiNews.com. The source did not provide further details. Kirkuk, 250 km (156 miles) north of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, sits on the ruins of a 5,000-year-old settlement. Because of the strategic geographical location of the city, Kirkuk was the battle ground for three empires, Assyria, Babylonia and Media which controlled the city at various times. SS (P) 1