Secret accord exists between Kurdistan Coalition – U.S. to keep part of latter’s troops in Kirkuk, MP charges

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A Legislature from Al-Ahrar Bloc, belonging to the Shiite Al-Sadr Trend, has said on Thursday that a secret agreement existed between the Kurdistan Region and the American side to keep part of the U.S. forces in north Iraq ’s Kirkuk Province .   “There is a secret agreement between the American side and the government of Kurdistan Region on possibility to keep American troops in Kirkuk , being an area of conflict,” Legislature Ali al-Tamimy stated on Thursday, charging that “Kurdistan Region strives to capture the city of Kirkuk , after splitting it from Iraq .”   The oil-rich city of Kirkuk , 255 km to the northeast of Baghdad , is among the areas in conflict between the Federal Government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Region.   Noteworthy is that the U.S. combat troops had withdrawn from Iraq at the end of August last, according to the Strategic Agreement, signed between Baghdad and Washington at end of 2008, whilst the remaining U.S. non-combat troops, estimated at 50,000, would withdraw by the end of December this year.   SKH (IT) .