Iraqi Turkmen official shot dead in Iraq

By Hussein al-Amir

BAGHDAD (AA) - An Iraqi Turkmen Front official was assassinated by unknown gunmen in northern Iraq's Kirkuk city, police said Tuesday.

Capt. Hamed al-Obeidi told Anadolu Agency: "Alaa al-Din al-Salihi [also known as al-Bayati], a Turkmen Front official, has been shot dead in the Al-Askari neighborhood in Kirkuk by unknown gunmen."

He added the gunmen fled after shooting him dead.

Police is investigating the incident.

The Turkmen Front occupies two out of 328 seats in the Iraqi parliament and nine out of 41 seats in the Kirkuk provincial council.

Since October, Iraqi forces have controlled the entire province of Kirkuk, ending the presence of the northern regional forces “Peshmerga”.