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Syrian Kurdish party plans transitional administration | Syrian Kurdish party plans transitional administration |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Syria's largest Kurdish party has said it plans to form an transitional administration. | Syria's largest Kurdish party has said it plans to form an transitional administration. |
The administration would rule Kurdish-majority areas in the northeast until the broader conflict is over. | The administration would rule Kurdish-majority areas in the northeast until the broader conflict is over. |
Kurdish groups in northern Syria have tried to stay out of the civil war between the government and rebels. | Kurdish groups in northern Syria have tried to stay out of the civil war between the government and rebels. |
However, Islamist rebels have moved into Kurdish-controlled areas in recent months, causing increasing clashes between them and Kurdish militias. | However, Islamist rebels have moved into Kurdish-controlled areas in recent months, causing increasing clashes between them and Kurdish militias. |
The Democratic Union Party (PYD) announced the move after two days of talks in the town of Qamishli in north-eastern Syria. | |
Alan Semo, the PYD's UK-based representative, told the BBC his party was not seeking to carve out a separate Kurdish state. | Alan Semo, the PYD's UK-based representative, told the BBC his party was not seeking to carve out a separate Kurdish state. |
Mr Semo said the region would be "integrated in future in a united, democratic, plural Syria", adding that neighbouring Turkey, which has fought a long war against Kurdish rebels, had nothing to fear from the move. | Mr Semo said the region would be "integrated in future in a united, democratic, plural Syria", adding that neighbouring Turkey, which has fought a long war against Kurdish rebels, had nothing to fear from the move. |
"I think Turkey will realise that this step is not a threat to any regional or international or global stability, it is temporary," he added. | "I think Turkey will realise that this step is not a threat to any regional or international or global stability, it is temporary," he added. |
The PYD planned to introduce a constitution and regional parliament, with representation for non-Kurds in the area, he went on. | The PYD planned to introduce a constitution and regional parliament, with representation for non-Kurds in the area, he went on. |
However, it is not clear whether all Kurdish factions will take part in the administration. | However, it is not clear whether all Kurdish factions will take part in the administration. |
"I think that such a rushed, one-sided move will be seen as... an obstacle to the Syrian opposition," Nuri Brimo, a member of the Kurdish National Council (KNC), an alliance of 13 Kurdish parties, told AFP. | |
A de facto autonomous Kurdish zone was created when government forces withdrew from the area in the summer of 2012. | A de facto autonomous Kurdish zone was created when government forces withdrew from the area in the summer of 2012. |
Last month Kurdish fighters took control of a border crossing with Iraq from an Islamist rebel group. | Last month Kurdish fighters took control of a border crossing with Iraq from an Islamist rebel group. |
Syria's Kurdish minority makes up around 10% of the population and is largely concentrated in the country's far north-east, near the borders with Turkey and Iraq. | Syria's Kurdish minority makes up around 10% of the population and is largely concentrated in the country's far north-east, near the borders with Turkey and Iraq. |
The fighting between jihadist rebels and armed Kurdish militia has added another layer to Syria's complex civil war. | The fighting between jihadist rebels and armed Kurdish militia has added another layer to Syria's complex civil war. |
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