An Islamic Group to Resume Its Occupation Of Halabja

(The Kurdistan Observer) Oct 11, 2001. Both Kurdish leaders, Jalal Talabani of the PUK
and Mulla Ali Abdulaziz of the Islamic Movement of Kurdistan (IMK), agreed to adhere to
Tehran Accord which governs the relations between the two parties in Halabja and its
surrounding areas, reported a London based Arabic newspaper, Al-Hayat yesterday.

Having attempted vigorously to mediate between the PUK and IMK, Iran succeeded 
yesterday to convene a meeting between Talabani and Abulaziz in Qasri Shirin in Eastern
(Iranian) Kurdistan.

A PUK official said the meeting was "positive".  "It will bring reconciliation to the area".
He explained that the two leaders agreed to allow the IMK party to move back to Halabja
and areas that were under control of the IMK prior to the recent fighting between the PUK 
and Islamic groups. An IMK official in London also confirmed the latest agreement signed
between his party and the PUK.

On Sep 24 of last month, the PUK forces launched an assault on IMK forces and other Islamic.
Consequently, the PUK captured Halabja following the retreat of IMK forces to the areas
bordering Iran.

According to the Tehran Accord of 1997, the Halabja and Hawraman areas are to stay under
the IMK while the PUK are allowed to maintain limited symbolic forces in the region.
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