KIRKUK, Iraq (AFP) — Ten Iraqi policemen were killed when a massive car bomb tore through a bus in the northern city of Kirkuk on Wednesday underscoring the fragility of recent security gains.

The Kurdish region of Iraq has seen gains in human rights, but security forces "regularly abuse their authority" and women continue to be targets of violence, Amnesty International said Tuesday.

Bbc.co.uk

Security forces in the Iraq's northern Kurdish provinces are operating "beyond the rule of law", a report by Amnesty International has warned.

BAGHDAD (AFP) — Iraq's oil minister penalised two South Korean oil firms on Thursday, banning them from taking part in Iraqi tenders after they signed a billion-dollar contract with the Kurd regional government.

Kurdishrights.org | 4 April 2009

Protests broke out in the city of Agri in the mostly Kurdish region of Turkey when it was announced that 3000 votes had been voided during the elections last weekend. Supporters of the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party protested the discarding of votes after their party lost the city elections by a very close margin to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).

The Associated Press | 4 April 2009

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkish news agencies say a Kurdish demonstration turned deadly in southeast Turkey as police clashed with thousands of protesters trying to reach the village of an imprisoned Kurdish rebel chief to mark his 60th birthday.

Cnn.com | By Ivan Watson

ISTANBUL, Turkey (CNN) -- Forty-eight hours after a harrowing distress call from a helicopter crash survivor in the mountains of eastern Turkey, Turkey's interior minister said Friday that rescuers have finally discovered the wreckage.

Reuters.com | Sat Mar 14, 2009

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish investigators found a skull, burnt clothes and bones during excavations at a suspected dumping ground for victims of extra-judicial killings in the south east, state-run Anatolian news agency reported.

Upi.com | March 15, 2009

BAGHDAD, March 15 (UPI) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is unlikely to seek re-election later this year but will remain active in politics, says the 75-year-old leader's Web site.

Nytimes.com | March 15, 2009 | By ALISSA J. RUBIN

BAGHDAD — President Jalal Talabani’s office confirmed Saturday that he would not seek a second term, setting off speculation over a battle for his successor and whether the Kurds would retain the post of president, one of the three top jobs in the Iraqi government.