PM office denies 48-hour ultimatum for Peshmerga withdrawal from Kirkuk
Peshmerga forces. File photo.
Kirkuk (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi denied Sunday giving Kurdish Peshmerga troops 48 hours to withdraw from Kirkuk, saying reports in that respect were rumors made by Kurdish leaderships.
Saad al-Hadithi, Abadi’s office spokesman, told Sky News Arabia that there was no evidence the Iraqi government had given an ultimatum. “Those are talks made by Peshmerga leaders,” he said.
He reiterated earlier government assurances that Iraqi forces were only redeploying in the areas occupied by Islamic State militants before June 10th, 2014.
A similar denial was made Saturday by Peshmerga Ministry’s secretary-general, Jabbar Yawar, who also said his forces were only redeploying.
Sputnik agency had reported Friday that Abadi have Peshmerga forces 48 hours to leave their positions in Kirkuk to Iraqi troops.
Baghdad had demanded Kurdistan to hand over security in Kirkuk to Iraqi forces following a political crisis that erupted when Kurdistan held a referendum in September in which 92% voted for independence from Iraq.
On Thursday, Kurdistan Security Council warned that Iraq was preparing for a military offensive in Kirkuk, which was denied by Baghdad.
On Saturday, brief clashes erupted between Peshmerga and the pro-Iraqi government Popular Mobilization Forces at Kirkuk, before both sides reportedly agreed on a truce.