Iraqi Kurds deal-making over oil, Kirkuk

BAGHDAD, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Iraq's Kurdish leaders, tired of arguments with Shiite Arab counterparts over issues such as oil deals and oil-rich Kirkuk, are forging a pact with Sunnis.

Iraqi media report an agreement has been reached, potentially forming a loose political deal between the two main Kurdish parties and the Sunni Iraqi Islamic Party, which has opposed the Shiite-dominated coalition government.

The Kurdish coalition, a key part of the current coalition government in Baghdad, has faced off recently over the Kurdistan Regional Government's oil deals and the status of Kirkuk, which Kurds claim to be historically theirs.

The Voices of Iraq news agency reports the deal was signed earlier this week, though few details have emerged and media are left with unanswered questions.

In an editorial, the al-Dustour newspaper asked, "Will the tripartite alliance compliment the already existing four-way agreement between the great leaderships?" referring to an agreement reached between the two Kurdish parties and the two main Shiite parties in August. The editorial claimed the Kurds are strengthening their hand, threatening to align with an opposing group if their demands are not met.

"Fears remain over the possibility of turning the new agreement into a reality on the ground to solve all disputed issues: the constitution, Kirkuk, the oil and gas law and national reconciliation," the al-Muwatin newspaper wrote in an article titled "Will the three-way MoU push forward the political process?"

The KRG, a semiautonomous region, wants the rights to develop its oil sector without direct control from Baghdad. The KRG passed its own regional oil law instead and has signed dozens of production-sharing contracts with foreign oil firms.

The leadership in Baghdad, as well as Sunnis, wants a centrally controlled oil regime and has called the KRG deals illegal. The Oil Ministry has started contacting some of the firms, vowing to block any sales of Iraqi oil if they move forward on the Kurd contract.

In Kirkuk, a last-minute deal was reached to delay a vote on the future of the disputed territory. It contains between 11 billion and 15 billion barrels of oil. The Kurds want it to be part of the KRG, but Iraq's Arabs and minority groups are against it.