Kurds Threaten to Walk Away From Iraqi State

[Chicago Democrat]

Kurds Threaten to Walk Away From Iraqi State
By DEXTER FILKINS

Published: June 9, 2004

The New York Times

The Kurds in Iraq are intent on retaining their rights to self-rule.

BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 8 — A crisis for the new Iraqi government loomed Tuesday as Kurdish leaders threatened to withdraw from the Iraqi state unless they received guarantees against Shiite plans to limit Kurdish self-rule.

In a letter to President Bush this week, the two main Kurdish leaders, Massoud Barzani and Jalal Talabani, wrote that the Kurds would "refrain from participating in the central government" in Baghdad if any attempt was made by the new government to nullify the interim Iraqi constitution adopted in March.

Shiite leaders have said repeatedly in recent weeks that they intend to remove parts of the interim constitution that essentially grant the Kurds veto power over the permanent constitution, which is scheduled to be drafted and ratified next year.

The Shiite leaders consider the provisions undemocratic, while the Kurds contend they are their only guarantee of retaining the rights to self-rule they gained in the past 13 years, protected from Saddam Hussein by United States warplanes.

rest at....

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/09/international/middleeast/09KURD.html?hp

[paulk]

1. this is the most important news today

and it's been completely buried by the Reaganfest.

This means civil war.

[Moderator]

2. Duplicate topic, please add your link and discuss here, thanks

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x612306