Kurdish Forces Take Part In New Security Plan
Feb 12, 2007
By
Basil Adas, Gulf News Correspondent
Baghdad: Kurdish troops are being deployed in Baghdad in a process that is
expected to conclude this week, while three Kurdish military brigades are
heading from Kurdistan territory to Baghdad, Kurdish military officials
confirmed yesterday.
Shaikh Ja'afar Al Barazanji, Kurdistan Peshmargas forces minister, confirmed
Kurdish brigades have been sent to take part in the new Baghdad security plan,
they will be under the authority of the central government Iraqi army commander.
"Kurdish brigades are well-trained to fight
inside cities and neighbourhoods, and they will contribute vigorously in
cleansing Baghdad's suburbs of armed men and outlaws," he told Gulf News.
The growing role of the Kurdish Peshmergas
forces inside the Iraqi capital might be considered reassuring to the strong
Sunni political forces which accused Iraqi forces of affiliation to Shiite
political parties and involvement in sectarian violence against Sunni
neighbourhoods during the previous security plans.
Escalation
Also, the US forces distrust the Iraqi Interior
Ministry troops which are accused of allegiance to Shiite armed militias and
Iran. It was also said that enhancing Kurdish military coexistence in Baghdad is
a US request.
Babakeer Zebari, the Iraqi Army Chief of Staff
headed to the headquarters of Kurdistan President Masoud Barazani in the
Salladin resort, Arbil. According to information, Zebari asked Barazani to
prepare additional Kurdish military brigades because the security plan in
Baghdad might need them.
Citizens of Adhamyia, the Sunni neighbourhood
in Baghdad which has been besieged by Iraqi-American troops told Gulf News that
Kurdish forces from the Iraqi army are participating with US troops in enclosing
the neighbourhood which is believed to include Sunni armed men.
Amer Al Hussaini, a prominent figure in the
Shiite Sadr group, told Gulf News: "Some Kurdish forces are seen stationed in
some entrances of the Sadr Shiite neighbourhood."
The Kurdish Peshmergas forces which most of the
Iraqi army brigades are formed from, stationed in Dohuk, Arbil and Suleiymaniya,
amount to 80,000. This might rise to 120,000 because of the escalation of
security threats in Baghdad and also
Turkey's threats to the federal Kurdistan
region regarding ownership of Kirkuk.
Fadhil Merani, the Kurdistan Democratic Party
secretary, told Gulf News: "The deterioration of any security plan in Baghdad
and other regions means there will be a critical threat to the presence of
Kurdistan in a unified federal democratic Iraq, and that is why we support the
new security plan in Baghdad with all of our available resources."
The parliament in Kurdistan is witnessing
disagreement on the issue of sending Kurdish brigades to Baghdad amid strong
pressure from Kurdish clans, who do not want their sons to be involved in the
sectarian bloody quagmire.
