U.S. troops seek to break up Peshmerga forces

"This will be agreed upon, as part of those troops will join the new Iraqi army and be deployed along the borders with Iran, Syria and Turkey, while the remaining troops will be released."
U.S. occupation forces have decided that the number of the new Iraqi army would not exceed 40.000, in contrast to 400.000 during the reign of the deposed President Saddam Hussein.

Kurdish leaders do not welcome such efforts, particularly that Peshmerga forces have assisted U.S. troops dominate northern Iraq, upon the U.S. invasion on March 20.
Shot reiterated that Peshmerga forces were intended to protect the Kurds from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein and that the U.S. troops are currently stationed in Iraq and will protect them; hence, the existence of such Peshmerga forces are unjustifiable.

"The new Iraqi army is currently under preparation," Shot said in a press conference held Monday, July 14.

U.S. Restrictions Over Iraqi Demonstrations

"New conditions for demonstrations are to be set," Shot said on Iraqi unstable security circumstances during the press conference.

He elaborated that a notice should be given 24 hours prior to organizing any demonstration, the use of any kind of weapons is to be banned and timing of demonstrations should be between 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and between 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Shot pointed out that the occupation forces along with Kurdish police will perform search operations of illicit weapons in Kurdistan territory. Iraqis will be allowed to hold guns and rifles, provided they are licensed.

It is well known that such restrictions imposed by occupation forces on the possession of weapons are virtually applied in Baghdad but not yet in Kurdistan.

On the huge number of stolen cars in Kurdistan territory, Shot said that that would be examined to know how to deal with such thefts, given that those cars are sold in Suleimaniya with one fifth of their actual prices.