ANKARA - Iraqi Turkmen Front (ITC) said Thursday that peshmerges of Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and Iraqi Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) which had plans to seize Kirkuk where there was a great population of Turkmens entered the city by disregarding all commitments.
ITC Turkey Representative Ahmet Muratli said that they conveyed to Turkish and U.S. officials many times that PUK and KDP had plans to seize Kirkuk and stated that peshmerges whose real aim was to destroy Turkish identity of Kirkuk and annex it to the state which they planned to found, entered Kirkuk in front of eyes of Turkey and the United States.
Muratli said that peshmerges attacked and plundered population and title deeds registrations which proved existence of Turkmens in Kirkuk and stated that they arrested 11 Turkmens who fought against them and took them to an unknown place.
Stating that peshmerges chanted slogans, ''Turkmens, don't forget 1959 massacre'' in the streets, he said that they threatened leading people of Turkmens.
Muratli said that they wanted Turkey, the United States, Britain and U.N. to take urgent measures on Kirkuk issue.
(EÖ-AÖ) 11.04.2003