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17/11/2011 14:25
Kirkuk, Nov. 17 (AKnews) - The handover of Kirkuk Airport by U.S. forces in the province to the Iraqi authorities has sparked tensions between local authorities and the Iraqi Army over attempts by both sides to gain control of the facility.
The U.S. forces in Kirkuk handed over the airport, where they were headquartered since 2003, to the Iraqi Air Force in a ceremony the local administration did not attend.
The tensions stem from both sides having plans for the airport. Kirkuk Provincial Council decided last week to transform the airport from a military one to a civil airport. The Iraqi Air Force want to keep it as it is.
AKnews reporter who was present during the handover ceremony said the airport was officially received from the U.S. forces by Shahab Jahid, Iraqi aviation official in Kirkuk. Jahid has asked the Iraqi army to deploy a battalion of the 12th Division to protect the airport.
The Iraqi Army's 12th Division stationed in Kirkuk has an often factious relationship with the Kurdish controlled security forces and the Kurdistan Region's Peshmarga forces (defence forces).
During the ceremony, Hasan Asadi, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's mililtary affairs adviser said there was no need for the Kirkuk administration to attend the ceremony "because the airport is a military one and was the army's business".
Following the 12th Division's deployment, security forces have sealed off the base, sparking tensions.
The tensions come at a time when the Kirkuk governor is in Baghdad participating in a meeting about the Iraqi provinces.
Kirkuk is one of the multi-ethnic provinces of Iraq populated by Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen and Christians. It is one of the disputed areas between Baghdad and the Kurdish regional government (KRG). Each group is trying to expand their control over the oil-rich province.
Meetings of the Iraqi army and the Kurdish Peshmarga forces have on several occasions become incendiary.
DS
RY/JS/AKnews
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Kirkuk, Nov. 17 (AKnews) - The handover of Kirkuk Airport by U.S. forces in the province to the Iraqi authorities has sparked tensions between local authorities and the Iraqi Army over attempts by both sides to gain control of the facility.
The U.S. forces in Kirkuk handed over the airport, where they were headquartered since 2003, to the Iraqi Air Force in a ceremony the local administration did not attend.
The tensions stem from both sides having plans for the airport. Kirkuk Provincial Council decided last week to transform the airport from a military one to a civil airport. The Iraqi Air Force want to keep it as it is.
AKnews reporter who was present during the handover ceremony said the airport was officially received from the U.S. forces by Shahab Jahid, Iraqi aviation official in Kirkuk. Jahid has asked the Iraqi army to deploy a battalion of the 12th Division to protect the airport.
The Iraqi Army's 12th Division stationed in Kirkuk has an often factious relationship with the Kurdish controlled security forces and the Kurdistan Region's Peshmarga forces (defence forces).
During the ceremony, Hasan Asadi, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's mililtary affairs adviser said there was no need for the Kirkuk administration to attend the ceremony "because the airport is a military one and was the army's business".
Following the 12th Division's deployment, security forces have sealed off the base, sparking tensions.
The tensions come at a time when the Kirkuk governor is in Baghdad participating in a meeting about the Iraqi provinces.
Kirkuk is one of the multi-ethnic provinces of Iraq populated by Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen and Christians. It is one of the disputed areas between Baghdad and the Kurdish regional government (KRG). Each group is trying to expand their control over the oil-rich province.
Meetings of the Iraqi army and the Kurdish Peshmarga forces have on several occasions become incendiary.
DS
RY/JS/AKnews
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
