IRAQ: KURDISH PESHMERGA TROOPS SAY THEY EXPECT TO LEAVE KIRKUK ONCE U.S TROOPS ARRIVE TO PROVIDE SECURITY

Record ID: 648172

  • Title: IRAQ: KURDISH PESHMERGA TROOPS SAY THEY EXPECT TO LEAVE KIRKUK ONCE U.S TROOPS ARRIVE TO PROVIDE SECURITY
  • Date: 11th April 2003
  • Summary: (W3) KIRKUK, IRAQ (APRIL 11, 2003)(REUTERS) 1. WIDE OF PESHMERGA AROUND THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING 0.06 2. SMV U.S SOLDIER STANDING IN FRONT OF BUILDING 0.12 3. SMV THREE FIGHTERS SITTING IN BACK OF TRUCK 0.20 4. SLV PEOPLE WALKING IN STREET 0.27 5. VARIOUS OF TRUCKS WITH SOLDIERS IN STREET/ ONE MAN WALKING BY MAKING VICTORY SIGN 0.51 6. SLV MILITARY TRUCK IN FRONT OF BUILDING 0.55 7. SLV ARMED PESHMERGA FIGHTERS STANDING INSIDE BUILDING 1.01 8. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Kurdish) KURDISH GENERAL MAM ROSTAM, SAYING "We are waiting for the American commanders for negotiations and then we will pull our forces (Peshmerga) out to their initial positions outside Kirkuk. An American general is going to meet all the representatives of Kirkuk, including Kurd, Arab, Asyrians and Turks to set up a government committee." 1.29 9. SLV FIGHTERS INSIDE GOVERNMENT BUILDING 1.36 10. SMV MAN SPEAKING TO GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL 1.42 11. SCU (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) NOORADIRN YASIN, A RETIRED GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, WEARING NATIONAL ARAB OUTFIT, SAYING "We saw lots of damage and looting. We do not really know who is responsible for this. Even the Kurds are saying they do not know who is behind all this. We regret this situation." 2.10 12. SMV WOMAN INSIDE GOVERNMENT BUILDING 2.17 13. WIDE OF BURNING OIL FIELD/ REFINERY 2.27 14. WIDE OF PICTURE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN NEAR OIL REFINERY 2.35 15. VARIOUS OF U.S. TANKS IN STREETS AROUND KIRKUK (3 SHOTS) 3.06 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 26th April 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KIRKUK, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVACJQKDZ2XNL0EVHQ5O1RQZZ9VN
  • Story Text: Kurdish guerrillas have said that they expect to leave
    the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, as soon as U.S. forces
    arrived to provide security.



    The arrival of hundreds of Kurdish "peshmerga"
    guerrillas in the strategic Iraqi oil hub of Kirkuk on
    Thursday (April 10) after Iraqi forces collapsed had alarmed
    Turkey, which fears that its own Kurdish minority will be
    emboldened by what is happening in northern Iraq.

    "We are waiting for the American commanders for
    negotiations then we will pull our forces (peshmerga) out to
    their initial positions outside Kirkuk. An American general is
    going to meet all the representatives of Kirkuk, including
    Kurd, Arab, Asyrians and Turks to set up a government
    committee," said Mam Rostam, a senior Kurdish commander whose
    forces had rushed into Kirkuk, apparently without the full
    agreement of the United States.

    Five buses were parked outside the main administration
    building in the centre of the city and fighters there said
    they had been informed they would probably leave on Friday
    (April 11) back to their positions in their Kurdish-controlled
    northern enclave.

    Kirkuk was quiet early on Friday after a day of jubilation
    and celebration at the collapse of Iraqi government forces.

    Dozens of armed peshmerga roamed the streets, but the only
    U.S. soldiers seen were a small number of special forces.

    In Washington, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said
    Washington had agreed to Turkey sending a small number of
    military observers to the area.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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