Kurds deny criticism of Sunnis

ERBIL, Iraq, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- The Kurdish president denied in a statement that he had criticized Sunni Iraqis for sidelining the Kurdish members of the Iraqi military.

Several media outlets had characterized statements made by Kurdish President Massoud Barzani regarding religious edicts against Kurds from Sunni religious leaders as a strong sectarian condemnation.

A message released by the Kurdish president's office said the statement was misrepresented as accusatory, saying the president was referring only to historical fact.

Barzani in the statement noted that part of the Iraqi national army was composed of Kurds, which should be seen as a symbol of the effort to rebuild the country and pursue national reconciliation.

The Kurdish president called on the Iraqi army to adhere to its assigned responsibility of defending the country from outside aggression and terrorist threats, adding the military must adhere to democratic principles.

The statement noted the policy of the Kurdistan Regional Government is "very clear" in its objective to participate in a political system that represents all of Iraq's people in order to "build an Iraq that is democratic and federal."

Tensions between Kurdish officials and Baghdad have mounted in recent weeks as disputes between the Kurdish Peshmerga forces and the Iraqi national army escalated over authority in disputed regions of Diyala province.