Saleh Muslim, head of the Democratic Union Party (PYD)

Muslim said that the party has discussed the proposal with other Kurdish groups, adding that once an agreement is reached an election will be held within three months to set up an independent government to run Kurdish regions until the Syria crisis is settled. 

The party replaced the flag of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) with PYD’s in the predominantly Kurdish town of Ras al-Ain following severe clashes with al-Qaeda-linked militants. 

The PKK has been fighting for an autonomous Kurdish region inside Turkey since the 1980s. The conflict has left tens of thousands of people dead. 

The Turkish government has strongly reacted to the claim with Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu warning against efforts to form an autonomous administration in the northern part of Syria near the borders with Turkey, calling it unacceptable. 

“Before a parliament is elected [in Syria], everybody should keep away from such fait accompli, de facto situations. The risk of such a move is too great,” Turkey’s daily Today’s Zaman said quoted Davutoglu as saying at a press conference with his Greek counterpart Evangelos Venizelos in Ankara on Friday.

This comes as clashes continued between PYD-linked Kurdish militants and foreign-backed armed groups near several villages in northeastern Syria near the border with Turkey on Saturday. 

The Kurdish militants took control of a checkpoint and also seized light weapons, ammunition, a vehicle mounted with a heavy machinegun, and a mortar launcher. 

Foreign-sponsored militancy in Syria, which erupted in March 2011, has claimed the lives of many people, including large numbers of Syrian soldiers and security personnel. 

AR/HGH

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Categories: Greece, International, Statements, Syria, Turkey