(Kurdistan Observer) May 17, 2002.  Jalal Talabani, the president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan(PUK), called on an Islamic extremist group, Ansar Islam, to abandon violence and abide by the rule of law as other Islamic parties in Southern Kurdistan have done, reported a Suleimani-based publication, Kurdistani New. 

In a ceremonial event marking the opening of a five star hotel on Haybat Sultan mountain, Mr. Talabani said "we are looking forward to resolve our matters through dialogue and peaceful manners". 

The PUK leader has been criticized for taking a lenient approach dealing with
Ansar Islam group which is in control of several small towns in the PUK- administered Southern Kurdistan. 

The group was also behind the assassination attempt against the KRG Prime
Minister Dr. Barham Salih in which 5 of his bodyguards were killed. 

"The leniency toward this group does not mean we are weak. On the contrary it indicates our strength. We welcome the criticism directed at the PUK and myself in particular that we are too soft against so-called Ansar Islam. However, it is a mistake if one believes that this softness indicates our weakness. We are against infighting and those people must realize that the PUK peshmarga are well trained, well equipped and at their best state of morale", said Talabani. 

Mr. Talabani asserted that his calls for dialogue with group has a limit. He
made it clear that Halabja and surrounding areas are part of the Suleimani administration and warned that he will not allow Kurdistan to be base for terrorism, indicating that terrorism has become an evil confronting the whole world. He added "we will not allow terrorism to threaten our nation and our future". 

The PUK president also said that his party and the Kurdistan Democratic
Party(KDP) share a united vision concerning the future of the political situation in Kurdistan. He suggested that the peace reconciliation between the two parties will show much more progress, expressing his hope of resolving the difficult issues of the Washington Accord. 

In related news, some sources have indicated that in the meeting between
Barzani, Talabani, and the American officials last month in Germany, the US
assured Kurdish leaders that the Kurds will play a major role in the post-
Saddam era. 

It appears to the US that any attempt to change the Baghdad regime without the participation of the Kurdish fighters is slim at best.