This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-41641563

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Kirkuk: Iraqi government forces enter disputed city Iraqi forces enter Kirkuk as Kurds flee
(about 1 hour later)
Iraqi government forces have entered central Kirkuk, residents say, after taking key installations outside the disputed city from Kurdish fighters. Iraqi government forces have entered central Kirkuk after taking key installations outside the disputed city from Kurdish fighters.
Witnesses told the BBC they saw federal forces entering the provincial government building. Thousands of people fled the city ahead of the Iraqi advance.
Clashes were reported south of Kirkuk earlier in the day, while thousands of residents fled the city. The Iraqi military moved into Kirkuk three weeks after the Kurdistan Region held a controversial independence referendum.
It comes three weeks after the Kurdistan region held a controversial independence referendum. They are aiming to retake areas under Kurdish control since Islamic State militants swept through the region.
While Kirkuk is not inside Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdish voters inside the city were allowed to take part. Residents of Kurdish-controlled areas, including Kirkuk, overwhelmingly backed secession from Iraq in a 25 September vote.
Iraq's prime minister has said the vote - in which residents of Kurdish-controlled areas, including Kirkuk, overwhelmingly backed secession - was unconstitutional. While Kirkuk is outside Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdish voters in the city were allowed to take part.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) insisted it was legitimate. Iraq's prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, had denounced the vote as unconstitutional. But the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) insisted it was legitimate.
US officials said they were "engaged with all parties in Iraq to de-escalate tension".US officials said they were "engaged with all parties in Iraq to de-escalate tension".
Earlier in the day, the Iraqi military said its units had taken control of the K1 military base, the Baba Gurgur oil and gas field, and a state-owned oil company's offices. Mr Abadi said in a statement on Monday that the operation in Kirkuk was necessary to "protect the unity of the country, which was in danger of partition" because of the referendum.
Baghdad said the Peshmerga had withdrawn "without fighting". However, clashes were reported to the south, and the sound of gunfire was caught by a BBC cameraman as a team filmed near a checkpoint. "We call upon all citizens to co-operate with our heroic armed forces, which are committed to our strict directives to protect civilians in the first place, and to impose security and order, and to protect state installations and institutions," he added.
The Peshmerga General Command said Iraq's actions on Monday amounted to a "declaration of war" on the Kurdish people. On Monday, the Iraqi military said its units had taken control of the K1 military base, the Baba Gurgur oil and gas field, and a state-owned oil company's offices.
Meanwhile Turkey, which fears Kurdish independence in Iraq could lead to similar calls from its own Kurdish minority, praised Baghdad, saying it is "ready for any form of cooperation with the Iraqi government in order to end the PKK presence in Iraqi territory". The government in Baghdad said the Peshmerga had withdrawn "without fighting". However, clashes were reported to the south, and the sound of gunfire was caught by a BBC cameraman as a team filmed near a checkpoint.
The PKK - or Kurdistan Workers' Party - is a Turkish-Kurdish rebel group which has been fighting for autonomy since the 1980s. It is considered a terrorist group by Turkey. By afternoon, as thousands of people fled the city fearing impending clashes between the two sides, Iraqi military vehicles were rolling into the heart of Kirkuk. A picture shared on social media appeared to show Iraqi forces sitting in the governor's office.
Forces pulled down the Kurdish flag which had been flying alongside the national flag, according to Reuters.
Mr Abadi had ordered the flag to fly over all disputed territories.
While some celebrated in the streets, the Peshmerga General Command said Iraq's actions on Monday amounted to a "declaration of war" on the Kurdish people.
Meanwhile Turkey, which fears Kurdish independence in Iraq could lead to similar calls from its own Kurdish minority, praised Baghdad, saying it was "ready for any form of co-operation with the Iraqi government in order to end the PKK presence in Iraqi territory".
The PKK - or Kurdistan Workers' Party - is a Turkish-Kurdish rebel group which has been fighting for autonomy since the 1980s. It is considered a terrorist group by Turkey as well as by the EU and US.
Why is Kirkuk disputed?Why is Kirkuk disputed?
Kirkuk is an oil-rich province claimed by both the Kurds and the central government. It is thought to have a Kurdish majority, but its provincial capital has large Arab and Turkmen populations.Kirkuk is an oil-rich province claimed by both the Kurds and the central government. It is thought to have a Kurdish majority, but its provincial capital has large Arab and Turkmen populations.
Kurdish Peshmerga forces took control of much of the province in 2014, when Islamic State (IS) militants swept across northern Iraq and the Iraq army collapsed.Kurdish Peshmerga forces took control of much of the province in 2014, when Islamic State (IS) militants swept across northern Iraq and the Iraq army collapsed.
The Iraqi parliament asked Mr Abadi to deploy troops to Kirkuk and other disputed areas after the referendum result was announced, but he said last week that he would accept them being governed by a "joint administration" and that he did not want an armed confrontation.The Iraqi parliament asked Mr Abadi to deploy troops to Kirkuk and other disputed areas after the referendum result was announced, but he said last week that he would accept them being governed by a "joint administration" and that he did not want an armed confrontation.
On Sunday, his cabinet accused the KRG of deploying non-Peshmerga fighters in Kirkuk, including members of the PKK, which it said was tantamount to a "declaration of war". But KRG officials denied this.On Sunday, his cabinet accused the KRG of deploying non-Peshmerga fighters in Kirkuk, including members of the PKK, which it said was tantamount to a "declaration of war". But KRG officials denied this.