Military alert on Kirkuk

The Turkish military issued a warning yesterday that the significant change in the demographic structure of the oil-rich city of Kirkuk could ignite internal strife in Iraq if the city falls under Kurdish control following this weekend’s general elections.

"Such a development would pose an important security problem for Turkey," deputy head of the General Staff, Gen. İlker Başbuğ, told a televised news conference.

Kurds have flown to Kirkuk in large numbers and have been registered as voters for the Jan 30 polls, fuelling concerns that their move could pave the way for Kurdish control of the disputed city after an Arab party based there announced that it would boycott the elections.

Kurds and Turkmens, who have close ethnic ties with Turkey, along with Arabs claim control of the strategic city of Kirkuk. Turkey is concerned that Kurdish control of the city would make more viable an independent Kurdish state, a development that Ankara has repeatedly said that it will not accept.

The city is home to 12 percent of Iraq’s oil reserves. Turkey says the resources of Kirkuk must be shared equally with all citizens of Iraq.