UN hopes Baghdad, Irbil engage in dialogue to defuse tension

IRBIL, Oct 24 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary General special representative to Iraq Jan Kubic said Tuesday the international organization sought to contain the crisis between Baghdad and Irbil.
Kubic, during a meeting with Nechirvan Barzani, prime minister of regional government of Kurdistan, voiced concern over the recent developments that took place in Kirkuk, a statement by the government said.
Kubic, who called on both parties to exercise restraint, said dialogue was the best method to defuse tension.
Barzani also said that serious dialogue was the only solution to this tension, which broke out after Kurdistan held a referendum over separation.
The government in Baghdad then asked the Peshmerga forces to withdraw to their positions before June 10, 2014. (end) sbr.bs