Kurds concerned over possible F-16 deal

ERBIL, Iraq, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Kurdish lawmakers said they wanted reassurance from the United States that F-16s slated for sale to the Iraqi government would not be used against Iraqis.

The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous officials in the U.S. government, reported Sept. 4 that Baghdad expressed interest in purchasing 36 advanced F-16 fighters from the United States in an effort to reduce Iraq's dependence on U.S. air superiority.

Kurdish parliamentary speaker Adnan al-Mufti said officials in the Kurdistan Regional Government wanted assurances from the U.S. government the fighters would not be used against the Kurds, the Iranian Press TV reported.

"The Kurds demand guarantees from the countries selling weapons to Iraq that they will not be used against our people and other Iraqis," he said.

His comments come as tensions eased somewhat following a skirmish between Kurdish Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi military in the city of Khanaqin in the north of the Iraqi province of Diyala.

"We are not accusing the government unfairly, but the last event has created concerns that if a new prime minister came to power and then he thought a military solution was necessary, he could impose his will," Mufti said.