Spats intensify ahead of Kurdish vote

ERBIL, Iraq, July 21 (UPI) -- Opposition slates for the Kurdish elections Saturday complain the unity Kurdish List is removing its members from government jobs for political gain.

Regional opposition in the Kurdish provinces of Iraq -- Dahuk, Sulaimaniya and Erbil -- is centered on the political dominance of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, which are running under the unified Kurdish List in the July 25 election.

The opposition Change List hopes to mount a challenge to the PUK and KDP, but complains the incumbent parties are chasing public officials from their positions in Sulaimaniya because they were not supportive, Niqash, a Web site analyzing Iraqi politics, reports.

The PUK, however, discounts the allegations as nothing more than political propaganda, but noted high-ranking public officials are required to resign if they choose to run for political office.

Change List supporters, however, say the claims are in line with the tendencies of the PUK and KDP to maintain their political dominance.

There are 42 political entities competing for 111 open seats in the Kurdish Parliament, with quotas reserved for women and minorities.

The Kurdish provinces also consider their next president Saturday.