Duke
12-13-2010, 12:18 AM
Sat Dec 11, 5:27 am ET
ARBIL, Iraq (AFP) – Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani called on Saturday for the right to self-determination of the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, which could lead to a breakup of the country.
Speaking at a congress of his Kurdistan Democratic Party, Barzani said "the issue of self-determination," which was considered "a right," would be presented to those attending the conference "to be studied and discussed."
Barzani's comments were made to an audience that included Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Nuri al-Maliki, parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi and Iyad Allawi, whose Iraqiya bloc won the most seats in March elections.
Maliki, who was awarded the premiership on November 25, is in the process of attempting to form a cabinet within two weeks. Barzani's KDP is a key member of Maliki's governing coalition.
Iraq's Kurdish north, made up of three provinces, has its own parliament and exerts control over all areas of policy except for national defence and foreign affairs.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101211/wl_mideast_afp/iraqkurdspolitics
ARBIL, Iraq (AFP) – Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani called on Saturday for the right to self-determination of the Kurdish region of northern Iraq, which could lead to a breakup of the country.
Speaking at a congress of his Kurdistan Democratic Party, Barzani said "the issue of self-determination," which was considered "a right," would be presented to those attending the conference "to be studied and discussed."
Barzani's comments were made to an audience that included Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Nuri al-Maliki, parliament speaker Osama al-Nujaifi and Iyad Allawi, whose Iraqiya bloc won the most seats in March elections.
Maliki, who was awarded the premiership on November 25, is in the process of attempting to form a cabinet within two weeks. Barzani's KDP is a key member of Maliki's governing coalition.
Iraq's Kurdish north, made up of three provinces, has its own parliament and exerts control over all areas of policy except for national defence and foreign affairs.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20101211/wl_mideast_afp/iraqkurdspolitics