SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Co-president of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) Bafel Talabani has been in talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi regarding attacks and detention of Kurds in Kirkuk, saying “that situation is not acceptable”, the party’s politburo said on Wednesday.
Dozens of Kurds have been detained in Kirkuk in the past two days, according to Kurdish officials.
In a statement, the PUK politburo expressed concern over the “unwanted security situation” in Kirkuk that has been created in the past two days.
“PUK Co-president Bafel Talabani has informed Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi about attacks on Kurdish homes, violations by the security forces, and the detention of Kurdish youths, and he has been in continuous talks with the prime minister and high-ranking officials in Baghdad to solve the issue and to release the detained youths,” it said.
“He has reiterated that that situation is not acceptable,” it added.
The PUK politburo also criticized some members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) politburo for “putting at risk Kirkuk and its destiny due to some small political achievements”.
“This is an unlogic, political movement to us. Therefore, the PUK is the responsible force … and will preserve the spirit of coexistence in Kirkuk,” it said.
“The PUK will not accept from any party this kind of detention campaign and to put lives and social peacefulness at risk,” it added.
“The PUK has the decisive option for any possibility.”
