Kurds paying Iraqi Arabs to leave Kirkuk

[ProSense]

Thousands of Iraqi Arabs paid to leave Kirkuk

Thu Sep 27, 9:52 AM ET

KIRKUK, Iraq (AFP) - Thousands of Iraqi Arabs have accepted financial compensation to leave the northern city of Kirkuk, which leaders of the autonomous Kurdish region are seeking to control, a minister said Thursday.

Around 2,000 Arabs living there had agreed to return to their home provinces under an initiative launched by the committee in charge of overseeing relations in Kirkuk, Environment Minister Nermeen Othman said.

"The supreme committee... finished approving 2,000 applications submitted by Arab residents in Kirkuk who want to receive compensation of 15,000 dollars (10,600 euros) to return to their original residence places," she told AFP.

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The new Iraqi constitution adopted after the US-led invasion in March 2003 stipulates that Kirkuk's status must be sorted out before the end of 2007 by a referendum.

No date has been fixed for the referendum, which the Kurds have been strongly encouraging as they are confident of winning a majority, but which Baghdad says cannot be held until after a proper census.

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[provis99]

1. yeah, they'll move. And they'll never see a cent

Once they're gone, why would the Kurds pay them anything? Just a subtle method of ethnic cleansing.

[nightrider767]

4. Well The Kurds Just Signed A Deal With Dallas Based Hunt Oil Company

Maybe they got some upfront money to do this? Protect the wells?

[ProSense]

5. The Kurds are causing more than their share of problems

for a unified Iraq. Bush just likes to blame al-Qaeda and the Sunni Arabs.

[nightrider767]

2. Seems Like A Good Idea

Pay people to help them relocate, if they'd like to go. Seems way more humane than the bloody road to death so many Iraqi's have faced with their not so polite "death threat" petitions to leave.

[pocoloco]

3. Take the money and run!

No Brainer!