Protests against the transfer of command of a key security installation from federal authorities to local Kurdish authorities in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk turned violent on Saturday, killing one protester and injuring several others. Eyewitnesses and local authorities gave this information. He said clashes broke out between protesters and security forces during plans to hand over command of Iraq’s federal police headquarters in Kirkuk to the Kurdish Democratic Party (KDP). Kirkuk is mainly inhabited by Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen.
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In October 2017, federal forces took control of Kirkuk and the surrounding oil fields after Kurdish authorities held a symbolic but controversial referendum on Kurdish independence. The KDP had vacated its headquarters in the city at that time. The agreement to form the current government led by Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani included a provision for the return of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Kirkuk.
Last week, a group of the Arab community blocked the Kirkuk-Erbil highway to protest the reopening of the KDP headquarters in Kirkuk. Kurdish residents demanded the reopening of the highway, leading to clashes between protesters and security forces. Iraq’s prime minister has ordered security forces to impose a curfew in Kirkuk following Saturday’s clashes between KDP supporters, Arab and Turkmen protesters and security forces.
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