The Kirkuk Police Command in Iraq denied, on Thursday, the existence of any friction with the security forces affiliated with the Ministry of Defense in the officers' neighborhood (Nourouz) in Kirkuk, asserting that the security file in those areas is handled by the police command without issues.
The Deputy Commander of Kirkuk Police, Major General Ali Mattar, stated to the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "What is being rumored about problems in one of the residential neighborhoods and the security forces is untrue."
He added that "the security forces requested that those infringing on the Ministry of Defense's land in the mentioned neighborhood vacate it without issues, and the police command has taken charge of the situation."
He indicated that "the directives issued from higher authorities were clear regarding evacuating those neighborhoods legally, and the rumors of friction are unfounded."
