Senior (Kurdish) Official Proposes Mass Resignations

Patriotic Union of Kurdistan politburo chief Kosrat Rasul Ali suggested that all of the party's highest-ranking officials should resign, including himself, "to put an end to the problems that have engulfed the PUK." A source close to Ali said party officials have been busy with plans to (reform) the party follow a barrage of criticisms about the party and the government. (The party controls eastern Kurdistan and has been criticised as undemocratic and corrupt.) The source noted that "all PUK officials have struggled in the mountain," (in reference to the Kurdish Peshmarga fighters who successfully battled Saddam Hussein's army in the Iraqi Kurdish mountains.) Ali suggested that they give up their posts to pave they way for new, younger party staff, and that only (Iraqi president) Jalal Talabani remain as head of the party.