Due to clashes between Shia Heşdi Şabi militia and Peshmerga forces in Xurmatu district, today a meeting was held in Hervele village among Kurdistan Union of Patriots (KYB) Politbureau member and Germesor Front Representative Mahmud Sengavi, Kirkuk Governor Necmeddin Kerim, KYB Kirkuk Branch Representative Aso Mamend, KYB Xurmatu Front Military Representative Abdullah Bor, Xurmatu District Governor Şelal Abdullah, Shia Bedir Brigades Commander Hadi Amiri and commanders of Heşdi Şabi.

CLASHES MUST BE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY

Hadi Amiri and Necmeddin Kerim spoke to the press after the meeting and said a widely attended meeting had to be held as soon as possible to stop the clashes and announce a ceasefire.

Hadi Amiri said, “We have reached agreement with the Kurdish forces on a ceasefire. We both agree that the people causing the events in the city should be arrested and handed to the courts without discrimination, and that the clashes aren’t doing anybody any good. The people killed today should be considered martyrs and their families should receive compensation.”

THERE ARE PEOPLE TRYING TO UNDERMINE THE COHABITATION

Necmeddin Kerim said that he agreed with everything Amiri said, the meeting was positive and that all parties agree that these clashes aren’t serving anybody’s interests and continued: “There is no problem between the institutions. But some people are trying to take advantage of the current disagreements. Cohabitation will show its effects in Xurmatu and Kirkuk. Those who want troops sent to the city will have clogged the political process themselves.”

Necmeddin Kerim also expressed that a joint police force of Turkmens, Shia and Kurds should be defending Xurmatu’s security.

The conditions of Peshmerga forces weren’t discussed in the press conference. Sources say there are plans underway to hold a widely attended meeting in Kirkuk for a consensus between all involved parties in the following days.

1 peshmerga commander and 4 soldiers were martyred in the clashes in Xurmatu and 4 peshmerga were wounded. 2 civilians lost their lives in the clashes and 21 others were wounded.