Barzani party accuses PKK of causing explosions in northern Iraq

A spokesman for the Dahouk province in northern Iraq, which falls under the control of the Kurdistani Democratic Party, led by Mesout Barzani, criticized the "criminal policy" of the Kurdistani Workers Party (PKK) led by Abdullah Ocalan.

A statement for the spokesman of which the London-based al-Hayat daily received a copy, said that the "security forces (in the province) were able to on the night of al-Nawrouz Eid (the Kurdish New Year) arrest one of the Kurdistani Workers Party (PKK) armed men in al-Suleimaneh province, known as Abdul Hakim Jurjous, better known as Aziz, having with him great amounts of the TNT explosives."

The statement asserted that, "The terrorist admitted after investigations with him that he was sent by his bosses in the terrorist PKK to implant explosives in the areas where people are crowded to celebrate the Nawrouz Eid in the resort of Zawitah as well as to implant tens of mines on the road conducive to the resort's touristic sites. He also admitted that those who put the plan intended to convert the celebration of the Nawrouz celebration in Iraqi Kurdistan into baths of blood."

Aziz, according to the statement, also said that, "The terrorists of the PKK detonated on March 10, 1999 an explosive in front of the headquarters of the Turkmani front in the Dahouk city and the explosion resulted in killing the person who planted the explosion and wounding five innocent civilians.

The statement continued that the "terrorist organisation in its last Congress held at a secret location reiterated in a statement their intention to continue its terrorist activities against Iraqi Kurdistan."