Regional Administration In Iraq's North Asks Terrorist Organization To Leave Region, Talabani

ANKARA - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said Friday the regional administration in the north of Iraq pressed on the terrorist organization PKK stationed in the region, and asked it to either lay down arms or leave the region.
"The administration told the terrorist groups that they are causing a big problem in the region," Talabani told a joint press conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
On a two-day working visit to Turkish capital of Ankara, Talabani said the Iraqi constitution does not allow any armed groups to take shelter in Iraqi territories.
"As a Muslim country, we are against any group that creates a secure region in our country and that stages armed attacks against our neighbors. We do not accept such thing," he said.
Talabani said a political solution in fight against the terrorist organization PKK is an issue concerning Turkey, and he will not intervene in such a matter.
"As the president of Iraq, I have taken an oath to preserve Iraq`s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence," he told.
"I did not say Kurdish cat, I said Iraqi cat," Talabani commented on his earlier remarks that "he would not even hand out a Kurdish cat."
Talabani said, "handing over an Iraqi to Turkey --even if Turkey is a friendly country--is against the Iraqi constitution."

(BRC)