Friday, 23 December, 2011 , 15:13 AFP — The leader of Iraqi Kurdistan said Friday that a contract the autonomous region signed with US energy giant ExxonMobil was constitutional and claimed Iraq's premier had initially given his assent.

Friday, 23 December, 2011 , 03:04 AFP — The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday condemned the arrests of up to 29 journalists and what they described as "the ongoing media repression" in Turkey.

Wednesday, 21 December, 2011 , 10:30 AFP — Turkish troops killed 21 Kurdish rebels in clashes during the last six days, local security sources said Wednesday.

Wednesday, 21 December, 2011 , 10:04 AFP — Turkish troops killed 21 Kurdish rebels in clashes during the last six days, local security sources said Wednesday.

Wednesday, 21 December, 2011 , 09:58 AFP — Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Wednesday called on authorities in the autonomous Kurdish region to hand over Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi, who is wanted on allegations of running a death squad.

Wednesday, 21 December, 2011 , 09:52 AFP —

Wednesday, 21 December, 2011 , 09:46 AFP —

Tuesday, 20 December, 2011 , 18:42 AFP — European security body OSCE on Tuesday denounced the arrests of several journalists in Turkey, including an AFP photographer, over suspected links with Kurdish rebels.

Tuesday, 20 December, 2011 , 13:48 AFP — Turkish police arrested an AFP photographer and several other journalists on Tuesday in an operation against people with suspected links with Kurdish rebels, the photographer's lawyer said.

Tuesday, 20 December, 2011 , 11:41 AFP — Iraq's Sunni Arab Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi said on Tuesday he was "ready to face trial" on terror charges on condition that the case be heard in the autonomous Kurdish region.