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SULAIMANI – Kurdistan Islamic Union (KIU) has nominated one of its members to replace the head of Kirkuk Provincial Council who has stayed in Erbil since the October 16 incidents.

“We consider it essential that one of our two KIU members, Jwan Hassan, from Kirkuk Provincial Council replace Rebwar Talabani,” said Hadi Ali head of KIU political leadership in a written statement.

According to Ali, the acting head of Kirkuk Provincial Council, Rebwar Talabani, is not capable now to return to the oil-disputed city of Kirkuk.

Talabani left Kirkuk after the city came under an attack by the Iraqi forces and Iranian-backed Shia militia on October 16 and he took refuge in the Kurdistan Region capital of Erbil.

Since October 16, the Kirkuk Provincial Council has been in limbo with some of its members displaced and unable to return.

In mid-October, Iraqi forces along with Hashid al-Shaabi launched an operation to take control of the disputed areas, including Kirkuk, from the Kurdish forces in the wake of September 25th independence referendum. The governor at that time, Najmadin Kareem, was also removed from office