Barzani: I will quit if Council says OK to Turkish troops

DUBAI (AA) – Iraqi Kurdish leader Masoud Barzani was quoted as saying on Thursday there would be "dire consequences" if Turkish troops entered his country and threatened to resign from Iraq’s Governing Council.

Turkey has offered to send troops to Iraq to take some of the burden off U.S.-led troops trying to stabilise the country, but the U.S.-appointed Council opposes the involvement of troops from any of Iraq’s neighbours.

"The intervention of Turkish troops in Iraq will have dire consequences. Military involvement in Iraq by a neighbouring country will create a dangerous situation and lead to greater instability," Barzani told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

"It is not just the Kurds who are opposed to Turkish military presence. This is our country and our right and we insist on our stance…If the Governing Council agrees on this (sending troops) I will hand over my resignation," Barzani said.

Iraqi Kurds in northern Iraq are particularly hostile to Turkey. The accuse Ankara of trying to stir up ethnic tensions between them and the Turkmen minority in Iraq and stifle the Kurds’ federal ambitions.

Barzani, the head of the Kurdish Democratic Party, is among five Kurdish representatives on the 25-member Iraqi Governing Council, established in July.

Council members oppose the involvement of troops from Iraq’s neighbours because they fear they could take advantage of their country’s vulnerability, but the Council has not formally pronounced its position on Turkish troops.

The Turkish military has said it is talking to the United States about where to deploy its troops in Iraq and warned its troops would respond to any Iraqi Kurd attack.

"Our position is very clear and firm. The Turks will bear the responsibility for sending their troops into Iraqi territory despite Iraqi opposition," Barzani said.