Iraqi, Kurdish presidents meet amid heightening tensions in Kirkuk
President of the Republic Fuad Masum and President of Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani. File photo.
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) Iraqi President Fuad Masum and Kurdish counterpart Masud Barzani are currently convening in Sulaymaniyah, a province within Kurdistan Region, apparently to discuss the reported military standoff at Kirkuk.
Kurdish network Rudaw said also present at the meeting are the politburos of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. It quoted a senior official close to Masum saying that the Sunday meeting would be “different” from past meetings by the two parties as it will be chaired by Masum and Barzani.
The meeting comes as Iraqi government and Kurdish forces face off at the borders of the oil-rich Kirkuk province to which both governments claim sovereignty.
Baghdad had demanded Kurdistan to hand over security in Kirkuk to Iraqi forces following a political crisis that erupted when Kurdistan held a referendum in September in which 92% voted for independence from Iraq.
On Thursday, Kurdistan Security Council warned that Iraq was preparing for a military offensive in Kirkuk, which was denied by Baghdad.
On Saturday, brief clashes erupted between Peshmerga and the pro-Iraqi government Popular Mobilization Forces at Kirkuk, before both sides reportedly agreed on a truce.