IRAQ: A KURDISH FACTION DEFEATED BY BAGHDAD-BACKED RIVALS SAY ITS FORCES CAME UNDER ATTACK WHILE REGROUPING
Record ID:
639656
IRAQ: A KURDISH FACTION DEFEATED BY BAGHDAD-BACKED RIVALS SAY ITS FORCES CAME UNDER ATTACK WHILE REGROUPING
- Title: IRAQ: A KURDISH FACTION DEFEATED BY BAGHDAD-BACKED RIVALS SAY ITS FORCES CAME UNDER ATTACK WHILE REGROUPING
- Date: 13th September 1996
- Summary: BELFAT MOUNTAIN, NEAR CHELE, IRAN-IRAQ BORDER (SEPTEMBER 13, 1996) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. LV/SLV PATRIOTIC UNION OF KURDISTAN (PUK) POSITIONS ON MOUNTAINTOP (2 SHOTS) 0.10 2. CU WEAPON PAN TO GV COUTRYSIDE 0.17 3. SLV/SV PUK SOLDIERS CHEERING SUPPORT FOR PUK LEADER JALAL TALABANI (2 SHOTS) 0.34 3. SLV/SV OF PUK SOLDIERS RELAXING IN CAMP (3 SHOTS) 0.53 4. MCU SOLDIER 0.58 5. CU OLD MAN 1.03 6. SLV MEN WALKING DOWN THE HILL 1.07 7. CU OLD MAN 1.12 8. SLV/MCU SOLDIERS RELAXING (2 SHOTS) 1.22 9. LV ROAD DOWN MOUNTAIN INTO VALLEY 1.26 10.LV PEOPLE PASSING THROUGH KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY (KDP) CHECKPOINT (2 SHOTS) 1.38 11.CU KDP TROOPS WITH HEAVY WEAPONS 1.44 12.LV KURDISH REFUGEES IN TRUCKS DRIVING DOWN MOUNTAIN RETURNING FROM IRAN BORDER FROM PUK-CONTROLLED AREA, MOVING TOWARDS KDP CHECKPOINT (2 SHOTS) 1.58 13.SV SOLDIER 2.03 14.LV REFUGEES' TRUCKS AT CHECKPOINT 2.10 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 28th September 1996 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BELFAT MOUNTAIN, NEAR CHELE, IRAQ
- City:
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA8F29MHP45JS61O5L1F49ECZ2C
- Story Text: INTRO: A Kurdish faction defeated by Baghdad-backed rivals has said its forces came under attack from its foes and Iraqi artillery as they tried to regroup.
-------------------------------------------------------------------- The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) said 10 of its guerrillas were killed as they beat back militia of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) backed by Iraqi artillery near Mawar, east of Sulaimaniya, on Thursday (September 12).
In a statement released in Paris, PUK said it also repulsed a KDP attack near Choman and fighting was continuing.
PUK guerrillas were defeated in a 10-day drive through northern Iraq by the Baghdad-backed KDP. The KDP campaign began on August 31 with the taking of the Iraqi Kurdish capital, Arbil, and ended last Monday with the seizure of Sulaimaniya, the PUK's last bastion.
In an earlier statement, Jalal Talabani's PUK called its retreat a strategic redeployment and vowed to fight on against its KDP foes and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Tens of tousands of Kurds have fled from advancing KDP forces, and Iran said on Wednesday it was sheltering 39,000 refugees.
KDP leader Massoud Barzani has issued an amnesty to PUK rebels and called on Talabani to oppose him in a general election.
The KDP is virtually in control of most of northern Iraq after routing its PUK rivals in less than two weeks of clashes.
Although up to 30,000 Kurdish refugees have crossed the border into Iran seeking refuge, many have decided to return to the former PUK stronghold of Sulaimaniya despite reports of summary executions of PUK leaders.
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