Patriotic Union of Kurdistan

Bureau for International relations

Press Release

 

Coalition Forces move into Kirkuk after popular uprising

Thursday April 10, 2003 

Following the sudden withdrawal of Iraqi forces and Saddam loyalists, US Special Operations Forces and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) peshmerga units moved into the city of Kirkuk.  The move was triggered by reports of looting and instability inside the city center. The liberation of Kirkuk was part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The peshmerga have been placed under coalition military command.

The PUK and the Coalition forces are currently jointly working to secure the city center and have restored calm to the area.  There are small pockets of pro-Saddam loyalists that need to be dealt with before the city can be declared safe. All the ethnic communities in Kirkuk have joined in celebration the withdrawal of the Ba’ath party.

The PUK reaffirms its commitment not to take unilateral military action against the cities of Kirkuk and Mosul. All operations undertaken to date have been in coordination with US forces and have been to protect the civilians of Iraqi Kurdistan while preventing widespread looting and potential retaliatory attacks against citizens of Kirkuk. The US-PUK operation today was dictated by military necessity and the PUK military presence in Kirkuk is temporary.

The PUK will withdraw its military forces and hand over control of the city upon the arrival of a larger US military contingent. The PUK is working closely with the US on the handover in Kirkuk and will work to make sure that humanitarian aid reaches the citizens of Kirkuk.

The PUK again thanks the United States, Britain and other coalition countries for their support, sacrifice and leadership.

 

For more information contact:  Mohammad Sabir – US Representative

 

                1634 Eye Street, N.W. Suite 210, Washington D.C., 20006 USA

tel: 202 637 2496     www.puk.org          fax: 202 637 2723