Kirkuk Tensions Rise as Fateful Ballot Nears

Residents of Kirkuk - nicknamed “Little Iraq" because nearly all of the nation's ethnicities and religions are represented here - say they are being targeted by rival sectarian political groups.

The intimidation and violence is such that Suni and Shia Arabs do not dare to go to Kurdish neighbourhoods; Kurds avoid Arabs; and Turkoman and Christians rarely move from their areas.

Kirkuk's major religious and ethnic groups blame one another for the violence that has increased ahead of the referendum, which will determine whether Kirkuk and some disputed territories close to Mosul will be governed by the Kurdish Regional Government, KRG, or the central authorities in Baghdad.

The constitution stipulates that the ballot be held by the end of this year.

Representatives of some ethnic minority groups say they are being marginalised by Kurdish-led local authorities and are ready to take up arms to prevent Kirkuk becoming part of the Kurdish region.

Turkoman officials say several businessmen from their community have been killed, abducted and blackmailed by Arab extremists. Kurds, and particularly Kurdish parties, are regularly attacked by the militants, while Arabs claim to be threatened by what they say is a repressive Kurdish regime that controls much of the northern province.

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