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Iraqi President calls for dialogue between Baghdad, Irbil

BAGHDAD, Oct 21 (KUNA) -- Iraqi President Fuad Masum on Saturday called for dialogue between the central Government and the Kurdish administration in the north to contain the crisis between the two sides.
Masum, in a statement at a ceremony marking anniversary of the Islamic Supreme Council in Iraq, a major political party in the country, said his call aimed at tackling rifts among the Iraqis; caused by the secession referendum held in Iraq's Kurdistan late September.
"Urgent, persuasive and just solutions" must be found to tackle the crisis in the disputed regions, the president said, alluding to the situation in oil-rich Kirkuk where Government forces have taken control of key administrative and oil facilities, driving Kurdish paramilitary forces out of the region.
The president urged for creasing "military threats, abuses, aggression and assuring the citizens about their safety." Scores of civilians have fled the city of Kirkuk and surrounding areas since the recent Government military operation in the area. Baghdad has deployed the regular forces in Kirkuk and other contested regions in retaliation for the Kurds' referendum, held on September 24.
The top Kurdish leader, Masoud Barzani, had brushed aside repeated calls by Baghdad to abstain from holding the public vote. (end) ahh.rk