Rawand Mala Mahmoud stated that the situation in Kirkuk is quiet different as Kurdish parties were the majority in the former election and the Kurdish forces of Peshmerga were in control of the province and its capital, Kirkuk. But the situation changed after Kurdistan independence referendum on October 25 and October 16, 2017 and Kurdish authority ended in the province and the provinces governor changed and Rakan Jabouri, an Arab, is now leading the province. He added that ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) describes Kirkuk as an occupied province and has boycotted elections in the province. The official denied KDP accusations against the PUK in Kirkuk and blamed the KDP for the situation in Kirkuk.

Calling the KDP as the real enemy of Kirkuk, he told Kurdpress that the KDP was the reason behind the situation in Kirkuk and blamed some media outlets for attempting to try to release a bad image from the province.

Mala Mahmoud claimed that the KDP is trying to convince people that it has made the best decision and the other parties in Kirkuk have taken an unsuitable and bad decision.

The PUK official predicted that Kurds in the province would achieve their election rights in Kirkuk as more than half of Kirkuk citizens are Kurds.

There are disputed among the Kurds over the issue and I personally do not believe it is Baghdad’s policy as all sides in Iraq are conducting their election campaigns and that makes such a move hard, he told Kurdpress about recent rumors that the Kurdish forces of Peshmerga are going to return to Kirkuk.

Mala Mahmoud further confirmed that the U.S. and Britain back Peshmerga and a peaceful situation in Iraq. The Kurds, however, did not listen to any side and their friends during the referendum and it led to the recent situation.

The official accused KDP of doing all its best for Kurds defeat in Kirkuk as the party has 12 seats in Kirkuk provincial council and the KDP is not returning to the province deliberately.

Reporter’s code: 50101