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ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Clashes broke out between supporters of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the Iraqi army in Shingal on Wednesday during protests over the Iraqi government’s deadline for the removal of forces linked to the group in the district, PKK-affiliated media has said.
The Iraqi army has given local security forces affiliated to the PKK, known as Yazidkhan Asayesh, until Tuesday to leave the area. To protest the deadline, a large number of PKK supporters from surrounding villages headed to Shingal town but were prevented from entering by the Iraqi army, the PKK-affiliated Mezopotamya Agency said on Thursday.
One civilian protester was injured during the encounter with Iraqi army, it added.
Artêşa İraqê çuyina gel a navenda #Şingal asteng dike û rêyên diçin navendê bi seyarên zirxî girtiye. pic.twitter.com/7aB1XKpxFR
— Teko Azad (@___TekoAzad_) March 11, 2021
Baghdad and Erbil reached a deal on October 9 over the governance and security of Shingal, which is disputed between the two governments. Under the agreement, security for the troubled region is Baghdad's responsibility. The federal government has to establish a new armed force recruited from the local population and expel the PKK and their affiliated groups.
The Yazidi heartland of Shingal was attacked by the Islamic State (ISIS) in the summer of 2014. The PKK was able to control parts of the district and form a self-governing council and armed groups there, including Shingal Resistance Units (YBS).
Ibrahim Hasso, deputy co-chair of the PKK-affiliated self-governing council in Shingal, told Rudaw’s Tahsin Qassim late Thursday that they have “reached a solution” with Iraqi government over the forces, without elaborating. Thursday’s protest was organized by the council.
Although some armed groups, including those affiliated to the PKK, have withdrawn from Shingal city, Kurdish officials have claimed that their deal with Iraqi government has yet to be implemented.
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