Iraqi Kurds slam senior PKK member’s ISIL statements

ARBIL - Anadolu Agency

KRG President Masoud Barzani. REUTERS Photo

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Iraq has dismissed claims that its leader, Masoud Barzani, is planning to take control of Mosul with the help of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Sunni Arabs.

The KDP released a statement on its website directly rejecting the claims of Cemil Bayık, a senior member of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

It cited a report in daily Özgür Gündem and the Fırat News Agency (ANF), two media outlets known to be close to the PKK, saying it “targeted Masoud Barzani and the KDP” and describing it as “a script totally made up of lies.”

“According to this made-up script, Azad Barwari, assigned by Masoud Barzani, prepared a plan on June 1 in Amman to take control of Mosul after meeting with Sunni sides and ISIL. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who has learned about the plan, got Iran involved to intervene in it. We categorically reject this report. We have always stood against terrorism. We never had and never will form an alliance with ISIL, which has martyred many peshmerga,” the statement said.

“The PKK, led by Cemil Bayık, has become a part of the intelligence organizations’ plans against Masoud Barzani and the KDP. From which country are you taking intelligence orders?” it added.

The statement also called on the PKK “not to undermine the union of the Kurdistan peoples.’”