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Iraqi Kurd premier warns of violence between Kurds, Arabs

February 19, 2009

Nechirvan Barzani, the prime minister of the Kurdish Regional Government

BAGHDAD - Iraqi Kurdish regional government Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani has warned about possible violence between Kurds and Arabs if problems with the central government are not resolved, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI) reports.

Barzani was referring to problems with disputed territories and the sensitive issue of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

But Fawzi Akram Terzi, a Turkoman parliament deputy in Baghdad associated with the Sadrist bloc, told RFI that a Kurdish-Arab civil war is out of the question in the new Iraq where disagreements are settled by dialogue and according to the constitution.

He said Barzani's statements were "irresponsible."

A Kurdish parliament deputy told RFI that Barzani's warning reflects the concern felt by Kurds that U.S. President Barack Obama will withdraw troops before an agreement is reached between the Kurdish regional government and Baghdad over their disputes.

He added that regional and central government officials have not met for four months.

Topics: Ethnic minorities, Arabs, Kurd,