'Kurdish militias' eyed ahead of elections

MOSUL, Iraq, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Baghdad should send a neutral security force to the northern city of Mosul to protect voters from Kurdish militias, the head of the Iraqi National List said.

Osama al-Nujaifi with the Iraqi National List called on the Iraqi government to send a neutral security force to Mosul ahead of the Jan. 31 provincial elections, saying Kurdish militias may threaten voters in the region, the Voices of Iraq news agency reported Tuesday.

"The security situation in Mosul has greatly improved and it is ready for the elections, except for the regions of Sinjar, Zamar, Shiekhan and al-Hamadaniya, which are under the control of Kurdish militias who terrorize voters and force them to vote for their candidates," he said.

Iraq holds provincial elections Jan. 31 in all but the three Kurdish provinces and Kirkuk, as those provinces are in the midst of a territorial dispute.

Ninawah Deputy Gov. Khisro Kouran with the Kurdistan Democratic Party denied the allegations, saying the concerns stem from allegations Kurdish militias were responsible for attacks against the Christian minority in the region.

Nujaifi was offered as a candidate for the position of parliamentary speaker by his party. The vetting process for that position is expected to take place in February.