PUK MP demands action after Kurdish woman killed in Kirkuk
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A PUK lawmaker has demanded a top-level investigation after a Kurdish woman was killed by apparent crossfire in Kirkuk.
On Wednesday night, unidentified gunmen threw a hand grenade at an office of Iraq’s counter-terror forces in Kirkuk, Nawzad Sattar, police chief at Kirkuk’s Rahimawa station, said in a press conference. Clashes broke out between security forces and the gunmen.
Three bystanders were hit in the crossfire. Halave Nasradin Saadon, 65, was killed. Laila Ali Zedan, a 78 year-old woman, and Mariwan Ali, a 41 year-old man, were wounded.
Rebwar Taha, a member of the Iraqi parliament from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), demanded the government take action at a press conference on Thursday.
He asked Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, military chiefs, and the head of anti-terror forces in Kirkuk to "establish a high commission to investigate random shootings in Kirkuk that take civilian lives."
Taha expressed doubt about the ability of the acting provincial governor to deal with the matter, claiming he “only represents one group in Kirkuk and has diverted from his duty."
Rakan al-Jabouri, an Arab, was appointed interim governor of the province after Najmaldin Karim, a Kurd, was ousted from the post last fall.
Kirkuk came under Baghdad’s control in October when Iraqi forces took over the disputed areas from the Peshmerga.
Kurds are worried about insecurity in the ethnically diverse region with rising crime rates in Kurdish neighbourhoods.
"In Kirkuk there is only one force and Kurds do not have any role in security and military establishments of Kirkuk. This gap has led to occasional violations by Iraqi forces in Kirkuk," said Taha.
He said it is time to return order to Kirkuk through the selection of a new governor, noting that it is the “legal right of Kurds to have this post.”
On Wednesday night, unidentified gunmen threw a hand grenade at an office of Iraq’s counter-terror forces in Kirkuk, Nawzad Sattar, police chief at Kirkuk’s Rahimawa station, said in a press conference. Clashes broke out between security forces and the gunmen.
Three bystanders were hit in the crossfire. Halave Nasradin Saadon, 65, was killed. Laila Ali Zedan, a 78 year-old woman, and Mariwan Ali, a 41 year-old man, were wounded.
Rebwar Taha, a member of the Iraqi parliament from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), demanded the government take action at a press conference on Thursday.
He asked Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, military chiefs, and the head of anti-terror forces in Kirkuk to "establish a high commission to investigate random shootings in Kirkuk that take civilian lives."
Taha expressed doubt about the ability of the acting provincial governor to deal with the matter, claiming he “only represents one group in Kirkuk and has diverted from his duty."
Rakan al-Jabouri, an Arab, was appointed interim governor of the province after Najmaldin Karim, a Kurd, was ousted from the post last fall.
Kirkuk came under Baghdad’s control in October when Iraqi forces took over the disputed areas from the Peshmerga.
Kurds are worried about insecurity in the ethnically diverse region with rising crime rates in Kurdish neighbourhoods.
"In Kirkuk there is only one force and Kurds do not have any role in security and military establishments of Kirkuk. This gap has led to occasional violations by Iraqi forces in Kirkuk," said Taha.
He said it is time to return order to Kirkuk through the selection of a new governor, noting that it is the “legal right of Kurds to have this post.”