IRAQ: Four dead after about ten blasts in disputed northern town apparently target Iraq's Shi'ite Turkmen

Record ID: 358191

  • Title: IRAQ: Four dead after about ten blasts in disputed northern town apparently target Iraq's Shi'ite Turkmen
  • Date: 28th May 2014
  • Summary: TUZ KHURMATU, IRAQ (MAY 28, 2014) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) PEOPLE OUTSIDE DAMAGED HOUSE CRATER AND DAMAGE IN FRONT OF HOUSE DAMAGED FURNITURE AND BIKE ON GROUND DEBRIS AROUND BURNT OUT CAR BURNT OUT CAR BLOOD STAINS ON THE FLOOR BLOOD ON THE WALL DEBRIS ON THE GROUND
  • Embargoed: 12th June 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Crime,Conflict
  • Reuters ID: LVABDDTTOSMF6X49OXGDDY6MOU0L
  • Story Text: Several bomb blasts killed at least four Shi'ite Turkmen in a disputed northern Iraqi town late on Tuesday (May 27), police and hospital sources said.
    Police said that at least ten bombs were planted outside the homes of Shi'ites Turkmen in three neighbourhoods in the centre of Tuz Khurmatu town, 170 km (105 miles) north of Baghdad, which is is home to the Shi'ite Turkmen minority.
    The town is part of a disputed swathe of Iraq claimed both by the Shi'ite-dominated government in Baghdad and ethnic Kurds who run their own autonomous administration in the north.
    There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks on Tuesday, but the explosions came at a time of heightened tensions between the Arab-led central government in Baghdad and ethnic Kurds over oil rights.
    Iraq filed for arbitration against Turkey last Friday (May 23), to stop exports of oil from Kurdistan after European markets bought the first load of oil piped from the autonomous region.
    The move raises the stakes again in a long-running game of political brinkmanship as Baghdad seeks to thwart Kurdistan's moves towards greater self-sufficiency.
    The Kurds say they are entitled to develop and market the resources in their region, and late last year finished building a pipeline to Turkey that circumvents federal export infrastructure.
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