Kurdish leader Barazani calls for mediation

Kurdistan Radio, run by the Kurdistan Democratic Party, quoted KDP leader Massud Barazani as saying that it has been a long time since Western countries have tried to forward the peace process between his faction and the rival Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) of Jalal Talabani.

Those countries need not be so silent at such a sensitive time, the report added.

Despite the fact that the outstanding issues will need to be solved in Baghdad, the Iraqi government has not yet made any gesture concerning resolving of the Kurdish problem in the North of Iraq, the report stated.

However, the KDP accused the PUK of arresting some 25 citizens from Shikarta camp, condemning them for being loyal to the KDP and asking each one to pay ID 2,000 (US$ 100) per month or leave their home and move to areas controlled by Barazani's forces, the radio said.

Meanwhile, the radio of Kurdistan's People, controlled by Talabani's faction, reported that 8 Turkish jet fighters flew over PUK bases in the Warte area, some 50 km to the north of Arbil, the regional capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.

It was the second time Turkish warplanes flew over the area, the radio said.