Weak security blamed for Kirkuk bombings
Bombs which exploded in Kirkuk and nine other cities including Baghdad, Karbala, Hilla, Mosul, Tikrit, Baquba, Balad, Fallujah, and Samawa during the week may have been prevented if security and cooperation between the security forces was better, according to Kirkuk officials.
They blame weak security and a breakdown in cooperation between political factions for allowing the explosions which killed 58 people and injured about 260. A member of the Kirkuk Provincial Council’s Security Committee, Ali Mehdi, says Kirkuk should have been a safe haven. But because of differences and possible political rivalries between political factions it became a target for the terrorist bombers.
He says weaknesses in security intelligence and the police led to confusion. Mr. (Ali) Mehdi says while there are efforts to bring the factions of the city closer, some are still undermining the efforts.
On June 13 four car bombs exploded in Kirkuk killing one person and injuring at least 24, mostly women and children. Mr. Medhi says the bombings were an attempt to destabilize the city by terrorists with ‘political motives’. Head of the Iraqi Gathering in Kirkuk, Akram Obeidi, is calling for a revision of the security institutions and says all the factions need to take part.
He says Iraq is still not stable and one of the main reasons is the failure of security officials. An Iraqi MP on the Free Iraqiya List, Zuheir al-A’araji, has also accused the political deadlock of opposing factions for the weak security situation. ”As long as issues increase we’ll see the result in the streets,” he says.
He is urging the political factions to work together for the public good and not let their rivalry be exploited by the enemies.
The Kirkuk Provincial Council has condemned the bombings as ‘an ugly crime done by terrorists against civilians.’ The Kirkuk Administration has formed a special committee to compensate those who suffered losses as a result of the bombings.
Salam Ansari, Abdulla Amri. Kirkuk Now.
