Jalal Talabani, the leader of Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan said that they have reached agreement with the Iraqi Interim Administration and the ambassadors of Britain and U.S. who gave written assurance over rendering the former status of Kirkuk.

Speaking to the Kurdistan Observer site, Talabani said that the 58th article providing for the Kurds expelled during the Saddam regime, to return to Kirkuk.

Turkey is meanwhile worried that under the pretext of correcting the former policies, the demographic structure of Kirkuk might be altered.