Turkmens in Iraq fear for their future

BAGHDAD - Anatolia News Agency

Chairman of the Iraqi Turkmen Front Arshad al-Salehi said the future of Turkmen in Iraq was in danger. Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, al-Salehi said some wanted Iraq to be divided into three parts, one each for Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, and did not want Turkmen in the country. Al-Salehi said Turkmen were now in need of “full support” because their future was in danger.

Al-Salehi said the Turkmen Front would attend a national conference to be held in Iraq in the coming days, representing Turkmen. They would then present their demands at the conference, he said. “We will ask support of everyone there. We will hold talks. We will demand meetings from political groups and parties,” he said. Turkmen should be regarded as the cement of Iraq, he said.