KIRKUK, Iraq
President Massoud Barzani of the Kurdish Regional Government in north of Iraq paid a visit to Kirkuk on Thursday after Peshmerga forces took control of the city seized by militants led by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Pledging peace for Kirkuk residents under the control of his Peshmerga forces, Barzani said, "The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) will secure all nationals regardless of their religion, sect or nationality."
His government is ready to defend Kirkuk and protect its people, Barzani told reporters in Kirkuk.
He also pledged security for the old city of Kirkuk through his Peshmerga forces who have the power to protect the borders of the city.
ISIL militants, backed by tribal fighters, seized Iraq's second-largest city Mosul on June 10 and have captured a number of other towns in the north and west.
In addition, Barzani slammed Nouri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, who accused the Kurdish Regioanl Government of cooperating with ISIL militants.
Dismissing his government's role in the seizure of Mosul, Diyala, Kirkuk and the wider part of the country by the militants, Barzani claimed Maliki concealed his failure and collapse by slandering Kurdish nationals.
"Military, political and the economic collapse of the central government triggered the current [ISIL] crisis," Barzani revealed.
Maliki had lashed out at Barzani, in particular, and Kurdish governors, accusing them of supporting the militants in his referral to Barzani's comments on a "post-Mosul" Iraq in a BBC interview on June 17.
"Some talk of a pre-Mosul and post-Mosul Iraq. These people are collaborating with ISIL. They are allies. Those who see themselves as part of Iraq now claim that the U.S. should not help the Iraqi army." Maliki said.
www.aa.com.tr/en
