We want a country

No Americans will take Kurdistan from us

Kurds brand report 'unrealistic'
Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud BarzaniMr Barzani was the first Iraqi leader to criticised the ISG report

The leader of Iraq's Kurdish region says the US Iraq Study Group report is "unrealistic and inappropriate".

Massoud Barzani was sceptical of plans to involve Iraq's neighbours in peace efforts, and for any weakening down of the Kurds' effective autonomy.

His comments were then echoed by Iraq's Kurdish president, Jalal Talabani, who said he agreed with Mr Barzani.

Earlier, the head of US forces in Iraq said most troops could be withdrawn by early 2008, as recommended.

But the commander, Lt Gen Peter Chiarelli, said such a pullout would only be realistic if Iraq first took significant steps towards political reconciliation.

US President George W Bush has publicly admitted the need for a "new approach" to the conflict in Iraq in the two days since the report was published.

But the president has hinted that he may not accept all of the report's key recommendations.

No co-operation

In the first Kurdish reaction to the Iraq Study Group (ISG) report, Mr Barzani said the Iraq's Kurds were not committed to the report "in any way".

Members of the ISG did not visit Kurdish regions of northern Iraq while compiling their report, Mr Barzani said, calling that a "huge shortcoming".

Calling the recommendations "inappropriate", Mr Barzani said: "We do not accept anything that opposes the constitution and the interests of the Iraqi and Kurdistan people."

His stance was backed up shortly afterwards by Iraq's President, Jalal Talabani.

"President Jalal Talabani supports the stand of the president of the Kurdistan region Massoud Barzani on the report," his office said, suggesting some of the reports recommendations ran contrary to Iraqi government policy.

They want a country. Neither the Shia, Iranians or Turks will permit this.