Talabani in Erbil on Kirkuk talks

ERBIL, Iraq, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani met officials with the Kurdistan Regional Government to discuss the status of the disputed Iraqi city of Kirkuk, officials said.

Talabani, a Kurd, visited with his Kurdish counterpart, Massoud Barzani, during the weekend in the Kurdish resort town of Salahaddin near the regional capital of Erbil, Turkey's Today's Zaman reported Monday.

The leaders discussed outstanding issues over the status of the oil-rich Kirkuk. Kurdish officials advocate annexing Kirkuk into Iraqi Kurdistan as a reversal of an "Arabization" campaign led by dictator Saddam Hussein. Sunni Arabs and Turkomen oppose the measure.

Talabani had a prior visit to the region where he pursued a resolution to the issue stemming from militant activity in the region linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK.

The Turkish military conducts frequent raids into Iraq in pursuit of PKK rebels. American forces have shared intelligence with Ankara regarding PKK activity in Iraq.

Iraqi Kurds have been at odds with Turkey over the PKK issue, though relations have warmed recently.

Safeen Dizayee with Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party said he would welcome a visit to the region by Turkish President Abdullah Gul, who had postponed a Dec. 20 trip because of medical treatments.