Britain Praises Iraqi Kurds’ Efforts to End Crisis

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Source: NYT

By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr.
Published: November 2, 2007

SALAHUDDIN, Iraq, Nov. 1 — While Turkish and American officials have stepped up criticism of Iraqi Kurdish leaders for failing to curb the guerrilla fighters who have sanctuary in northern Iraq, a top British official lent his support to the Kurdish regional government during a visit on Thursday and indicated that he was confident of its commitment to resolving the crisis.

The British defense secretary, Des Browne, appeared here at a news conference with Massoud Barzani, the Kurdish leader of northern Iraq. Mr. Browne said that he had seen “a serious commitment to implement a range of measures which will make a difference.”

Mr. Browne’s comments stood in contrast to remarks last week by the State Department’s senior Iraq adviser, David M. Satterfield, that the United States was “not pleased with the lack of action” shown by Kurdish leaders.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey was quoted this week accusing Mr. Barzani of “aiding and abetting” the Kurdish guerrilla group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/world/middleeast/02kurds.html?_r=1&ref=middleeast&oref=slogin