Syrian Kurds declare formation of transitional autonomous administration: statement

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Syrian Kurds declare formation of transitional autonomous administration: statement

(Xinhua) 08:11, November 13, 2013

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DAMASCUS, Nov. 12 -- The Syrian Kurds on Tuesday declared the formation of a "transitional civilian administration" to run the Kurdish-dominated areas in northeastern Syria.

In a statement circulated online and published by Iran's official al-Alam TV, the Syrian Kurdish groups located in the northeastern province of Qamishli announced that the Kurdish areas in Syria would be divided into three parts, each one of them would have its local council.

The decision came following a meeting held two days ago in Qamishli, during which the Kurdish leaders discussed the idea of forming a transitional autonomous civilian administration in their areas, following their "victories against al-Qaida-linked groups in that piece of Syria."

"The tasks of the transitional administration include preparing laws for local elections, preparing for the general elections, and laying out rules..." read the statement.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Syria nearly three years ago, the Kurds in the country have strived to keep the rebels out of the areas they control in order to avoid sparking a confrontation with the Syrian army and to ensure their territory remained free of violence.

In mid-2012, Syrian troops withdrew from the majority of the Kurdish areas, and Kurdish militia became responsible for security there.

However, fighting broke out recently in northern Syria between the Kurds and al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front. The Kurds gained ground in a number of areas in the north, mainly in Ras al-Eyn area, which is adjacent to Turkey as well as in Kobani and Tal Abyadh near the crossing border between Syria and Turkey.

Saleh Mohammad Moslim, the co-chair of the Democratic Union Party, the largest Kurdish party in Syria, said in an interview with a Kurdish TV channel recently that Syria's Kurds are in a " dire need of management or an interim government to run their affairs and meet the essential requirements of life."

The Kurds pose some 15 percent of Syria's 23 million inhabitants with most living in the north of the embattled country.

So far, there has been no comment from the Syrian government.

However, some Syrian opposition parties, after failing to convince the Kurdish parties to join their ranks, accused the Kurds of collaborating with the Syrian government, a charge most Kurds have repeatedly denied.

（Editor：LiangJun、Yao Chun）