Jaafari Rejects Kurdish Demands on Kerkuk

Jaafari met with Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Mesud Barzani and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) leader Jalal Talabani last Tuesday and Wednesday. Jaafari is entertaining Talabani’s demand for the presidency, reportedly, but avoided making any promises regarding the Kurdish leader’s other demands such as direct shares of the region’s oil income and a promise not to disperse the peshmarga forces. Shiite Political Council member Ali Faisal said yesterday (March 3) that during the meetings, Kurdish leaders asked for constitutional guarantees on their demands regarding Kirkuk’s status and broader autonomy. Although they do not want a state ruled by Shariya [Islamic law], Kurdish leaders are disturbed by Jafaari’s candidacy for prime ministry, said Faisal, and so far no agreement has been reached during the talks. According to Faisal, talks will continue over the next few days. The Shiite Alliance’s previous candidate, pro-American Ahmed Chalabi, met with interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, a man opposed to a Shariya state, yesterday. No further details are been provided regarding the talks.