Over the past week, in a series of audacious acts and presumptuous pronouncements, the Kurds caused quite an internal and international row over their brazen attempt to annex Kirkuk into Kurdistan. The crisis in Kirkuk was precipitated with the Provincial Elections law and the veto of the bill by Talabani, a Kurd...

Ironically, it was Talabani that proposed the Kirkuk amendment to the bill that set up a 'proportional' representation for the many ethnic and sectarian entities. Namely; 32% for each of the Turkomen, Kurds and Arabs, and 4% of other nationalities...

Here's a rundown of events...

26 Jul 08

Realizing that playing the democracy game means they will loss their demands in Kirkuk, Kurds are now taking more hostile approach to include Kirkuk, parts of Mosul and parts of Dialya to their Kurdistan region as reported today by Al-Hayat.

Confirms Al-Hayat report, Al-Marsad Al-Iraqi reported that Kurds militia in Kirkuk asks the residents of the city to provide personal information and their ethnic identity falsely claiming that these are the orders from Maliki’s government.

30 Jul 08

Hundreds of Kurds militia members “Peshmergas” entered the city disguised as paramedics helping the explosion victim, the militia members were instructed by Barzani and Talabani to takeover the city and harshly confront any Arab or Turkomen resistance..

The source told the newspaper that Arab tribes in Hawija area moved their set the fighters ready to confront the Kurdish militia invasion of the city.

Aswat Aliraq also reported on 30 Jul 08...

A Kurdish lawmaker on Wednesday said his bloc would not accept the principle of sharing powers in Kirkuk, stressing the importance of holding elections in the oil-rich northern Province... ..."The Kurdistan Coalition (KC) bloc would not accept any form of power sharing in Kirkuk, but we do not mind the province's administration being shared by all (ethnic) groups," MP Mahmoud Othman from the Kurdish bloc, told Aswat al-Iraq -Voices of Iraq - (VOI). He noted "elections in Kirkuk must be held in a way that ensures the rights of all (groups)." The Kurdish lawmaker highlighted "those who called for sharing powers in Kirkuk aimed at violating the constitution and we would not allow any form of flouting the constitution voted on by the Iraqi people."

In a brazen move the next day, 31 Jul 08, the Kirkuk Governorate Council, after a walkout of the Turkomen and Arab councilors, boldly declared the annexation of Kirkuk to Kurdistan...

" The Kurdish Brotherhood List at the Kirkuk Governorate Council held an extraordinary meeting today during which it called for integrating the governorate into Kurdistan Region, considering this demand a constitutional right. Muhammad Khalil al-Juburi, deputy for the Arab Bloc, said that the extraordinary session was illegal. Muhammad Kamal deputy for the Kurdish Brotherhood List, said during the meeting: Today, we presented a request signed by 24 members of the 41-member Kirkuk Governorate Council to make Kirkuk part of Kurdistan Region, given this is a constitutional right. The request will be later referred to the Iraqi Council of Representatives. Kamal also called on the political blocs at the Council of Representatives to agree on the Provincial Council Election Draft Law."

That caused an immediate uproar across Iraq and most notably in Turkey...

The Iraqi Council of Representatives are currently working on legislation that is also closely related to Kirkuk. The tension created in Kirkuk in connection with this legislation in the last few days are followed with grave concern.

Furthermore the representatives of the Kurdish Alliance at the Kirkuk Provincial Council demanded in a press conference today that Kirkuk be annexed to the local administration in the north of Iraq. Certain local and regional TV channels in Iraq in their broadcasts in this connection claimed that Turkey would raise no objections to such a move.

Turkey has always been supportive of political consensus solutions which, she believes, will help the Iraqi society to live in harmony. In addition, Turkey has also advocated that Kirkuk should be given a special status, where all its segments are represented in a fair and balanced manner within the unity of Iraq. There is no change in this policy and there will never be.

On the other hand, we continue to carefully monitor the groups that cause tension, as well as their attempts of fait accompli in Kirkuk. It is obvious that the present situation will not serve the interests of any party, including those who cause the current problems. Turkey calls on all the parties in Kirkuk in particular and in Iraq in general to opt for dialogue and reconciliation. Our efforts to establish peace and stability in Iraq will continue in coordination and consultation with all our Iraqi brothers.

That denunciation by Turkey probably caused the immediate retraction of the annexation of Kirkuk and their threatened use of paratroopers...

Meanwhile, here's a sampling of various Iraqi condemnations...

- "The parliamentary Kirkuk Crisis Cell has criticized the request of the Kurdish Brotherhood List at the Kirkuk Governorate Council to integrate the governorate into Kurdistan Region. It considered the decision a violation of the law and Constitution. A statement issued by the Crisis Cell said that the announcement about the integration of Kirkuk into Kurdistan lacks constitutional legitimacy, saying that the aim behind this announcement is to send a threat to the Iraqi Council of Representatives, which will discuss the Provincial Council Election Draft Law in an extraordinary session on Sunday."

The Association of Muslim Scholars...

Some hidden things have come to light, in particular the motives of Kurdish politicians respecting their participation in the nation [of Iraq]. In a step that it would be hard to say reflected their full possession of their senses, Kurdish members of the provincial council voted yesterday to call for the annexation of the city to the so-called Kurdistan Region--which is itself lacking in legality--[annexation] which would depend on a free referendum of the people of Iraq, and an independent will in a free country, none of which is yet the case.

This is a measure lacking in balance and it will turn upon its creators. Those who have undertaken this should understand that any fruits that are obtained during the incumbency of the occupation have no value, and are completely lacking in legality. The people of Iraq, including the more true Kurdish people, will not permit collaboration with the occupier against the interests of the nation and its people. The Association of Muslim Scholars condemns this demand, and emphasizes this: The life of the occupation is short, and shorter still is the life of those who collaborate with the occupation and benefit from its presence. We ask the people of Kirkuk not to fall into the trap of fitna that they hope to ignite, so that those [Kurdish] politicians might create chaos and utilize that for a settling of accounts and imposition of a misconceived reality.

Also from Uruknet

- "A new political entity called Martyr Mijbil al-Shaykh Isa Movement was declared in Kirkuk today. In a statement distributed in Kirkuk, the Movement said that this is the right time to prevent the separation of Kirkuk from Iraq and handing it over to those who planned the collapse of Iraq. The movement said that it coordinates with the national Kurdish parties and the representatives of the Arabs, Turkomans and Assyrians to prevent the separation of Kirkuk from Iraq."

From Aswat Aliraq...

"The Iraqi government calls on all parties in Kirkuk to be abided by calm and wisdom, to rely on law and constitution," Ali al-Dabbagh, the government's official spokesperson, said in a release that was received by Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI). He urged them to avoid any escalations that may damage the national unity, brotherhood spirit and between all components. "The Iraqi government stresses its rejection to any individual step to change the situation in Kirkuk, and considers it illegal and unconstitutional," he added. "Kirkuk's final situation is controlled by constitutional mechanisms and political consensus that was agreed upon by all parties and the government has started to follow through the committee of Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution that clarified the roadmap of Kirkuk's future on bases that have been agreed upon, to guarantee peaceful living and to respect the diversity in the city," he noted. "The Iraqi government warns that any violation or security disturbance committed by any armed group will be dealt with in all firmness and force, according to the law," he asserted.

Stay tuned this is could get ugly...! I pray that saner minds will prevail!