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Move comes as Iraqi forces scramble to secure all parts of the country disputed between Baghdad. Erbil
Baghdad on Tuesday appointed a new governor for northern Iraq’s oil-rich Kirkuk province.
“I have been appointed to serve as Kirkuk governor by the central government in Baghdad. starting today.“ Rakan Saeed. who had earlier served as Kirkuk’s deputy governor. told reporters on Tuesday in Kirkuk city.
“I am taking up my role as governor with a view to restoring everyday life in Kirkuk.“ he said. “With the government’s help. we can provide the city with needed security.“
He added: “It will be business as usual at Kirkuk’s state institutions and classes will resume in the city’s schools.“
Saeed went on to point out that many of Kirkuk’s civilian residents had recently fled the city. fearing possible clashes between the Iraqi army and forces loyal to northern Iraq’s Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).
The new governor added. however. that all necessary precautions had been taken for the gradual return of families who recently fled.
In the run-up to the KRG’s illegitimate Sept. 25 referendum on regional independence. Iraqi lawmakers had voted to remove Najmiddin Karim from his post as Kirkuk governor.
The parliamentary vote had been prompted by an earlier decision by Kirkuk’s provincial council to include the disputed province in last month’s referendum.
On Monday evening. Iraqi forces announced they had established “full control“ over Kiruk’s city center. providing a list of facilities in Kirkuk that had been appropriated from retreating pro-KRG forces.
Since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. oil-rich Kirkuk has remained the subject of dispute between Baghdad and the Erbil-based KRG.
Peshmerga forces loyal to the KRG took control of Kirkuk province after the Iraqi army cut and ran before the Daesh terrorist group’s 2014 onslaught.
