Qatar condemns killing of Turkish diplomat in Erbil

Agencies Sulaimaniya/Doha

At least two people including a Turkish diplomat were shot dead Wednesday in a rare attack in the capital of Iraq’s northern Kurdish region, local security officials and Turkey’s foreign ministry said.

A gunman opened fire at a restaurant in Erbil where Turkish diplomats were dining before fleeing in a car driven by an accomplice, two Kurdish security officials and a witness said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility as security forces began a search for the attackers.

Turkey, Iraq’s central government in Baghdad and Kurdish authorities in Erbil condemned the attack, which took place weeks after Turkey launched a new military offensive against Kurdish separatist militants based in northern Iraq.

Ankara’s main enemy in Iraq is the PKK group, which has based fighters in the mountainous border region, north of Erbil, during its decades-long insurgency in southeastern Turkey.

Turkey and the ruling Kurdish party in Erbil, the KDP, have blamed the PKK for other Turkey-related incidents in northern Iraq including the storming of a Turkish military camp earlier this year.

Turkey’s foreign ministry said one of those killed was a diplomat working at its consulate to semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan.

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin vowed on Twitter: “The necessary response will be given to those who committed this treacherous attack”.

A statement from the Kurdish internal security service said two people were killed – the diplomat and another civilian – and one other person was wounded.

One witness said an attacker entered the restaurant and started shooting before he fled in a car that was waiting for him outside.

It was a rare major security incident in Erbil, where a new president and prime minister, part of a clan that has controlled the KDP for decades, recently took office. The KDP has said it will continue to co-operate closely with Ankara against the PKK.

“Nobody invited them (the PKK) here,” Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said in an interview with Reuters this month.

“We disapprove of their activities and … of their presence here. We understand the concerns of the neighbouring countries about security issues,” he said, adding that Erbil would look to strengthen relations with Turkey.

Turkey has called for Baghdad to take a more active role in helping it eliminate the PKK, and has waged offensives in recent years against PKK allies in northern Syria.

Qatar strongly condemned the death of the Turkish Consulate personnel in Erbil attack.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed in a statement the importance of opening an investigation into the attack, and presenting the perpetrators to justice in order to ensure they are held accountable.

The statement also renewed Qatar’s firm rejection of violence and terrorism, regardless of the motives and reasons.

It also expressed Qatar’s condolences to the families of the victims, the government, and people of Turkey.

AFP adds from Washington: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo strongly condemned the murder of the Turkish diplomat.

“There can be no justification for such acts of wanton violence,” Pompeo said in a statement.

“The US reaffirms its commitment to support the government and people of Turkey and Iraq,” he added, extending his condolences to the families of the victims.

أدانت دولة قطر، بأشد العبارات، مقتل موظف بالقنصلية التركية العامة في مدينة أربيل العراقية، في هجوم مسلح على أحد المطاعم بالمدينة.

وشددت وزارة الخارجية، في بيان اليوم، على ضرورة فتح تحقيق عاجل في الحادثة، وملاحقة العناصر الضالعة في الجريمة وتقديمها للعدالة وضمان عدم إفلاتها من المحاسبة.

وجدد البيان موقف دولة قطر الثابت من رفض العنف والإرهاب مهما كانت الدوافع والأسباب.

وعبر البيان عن تعازي دولة قطر لأسرة الضحية ولحكومة وشعب تركيا.