The PUK and KDP reached agreement over the appointment of a governor, Tayyib Jabbar, to the province in a meeting in July 10.

41 members of the Kirkuk provincial council are from Kurdish parties and they do not need any party’s vote to elect a province.

A number of Arabs in Kirkuk hold protesting gatherings after the deal by the PUK and the KDP and some shouted mottos supporting former Baath Regime and its hanged Leader Saddam Hussein.

The PUK official, Rawand Malla Mahmoud, told Kurdpress that the deal between the PUK and the KDP over the appointment of a governor to Kirkuk was a strategic necessity as any kind of agreement and unity among the Kurds would decrease tensions and troubles and would boost their status and would ultimately end problems in Kirkuk.

He further stressed that the deal between the PUK and the KDP is not illegal but it is completely legal.

The PUK official went on to add that the Kirkuk provincial council meeting to elect the agreed Kirkuk governor is necessary for Kirkuk and more meetings will be held in the coming months.

Malla Mahmoud further stated that talks and negotiations are needed for returning the Kurdish forces of Peshmerga to Kirkuk and some talks have been held between officials from Peshmerga and Iraq defense ministry and there is cooperation among the two sides, stressing that the issue needs agreements and coordination with the central government.

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