Iraqi forces withdrew from Qarah Anjir region to the outskirts of Kirkuk, the commander of a main Iraqi opposition group, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), told IRNA on Saturday. "The Iraqi forces have retreated 25 kilometers from Qarah Anjir area towards Kirkuk," Usman Assad said. According to latest reports, Iraqi forces started withdrawing from their frontline positions in Kurdish-controlled areas Thursday. Following their withdrawal, Kurdish forces have set up frontline war bases in Bani Maqem and Qarah Anjir. Meanwhile, US special envoy to Iraqi Kurdestan, Zalmay Khalilzad, recently said that US forces will take control of the key northern oilcity of Kirkuk themselves and Kurdish forces, which have been fighting side by side with them to expel Iraqi forces, would not be allowed to enter the city.
That's a sop to the Turks. As far as I'm concerned, the Kurds can have Kirkuk as their new capital. |