ITC Concerned About Developments in Kerkuk, Musul

According to a statement issued by the ITC, peshmerga fighters loyal to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) looted state offices, shops, houses and vehicles in Kirkuk. Seven Turkmens including a child were killed during attacks carried out on ITC offices in Tuzhurmatu, Tavuk county and in the city center. When Turkmens were forced to leave Kirkuk’s province of Altinkopru, some went to Erbil (Arbil). Additionally, said the statement, the KDP wanted ITC offices to be evacuated.

The ITC said the KDP had made some appointments to positions within the gubernatorial, police and mayoral offices in Kirkuk. The organization also said police forces loyal to the PUK had actually embarked upon their missions; however, the U.S. troops in the city did not know these people.

The ITC explained that three Turkmens were killed and one was injured in a clash between Turkmens and peshmergas in the town of Residiye, in Mosul, which was looted by peshmergas.