Written question asked by Caroline Spelman (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 April 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 April 2003. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Monday, 14 April 2003 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of ethnic strife between Kurds and Arabs in the north of Iraq.

Answer: Mrs. Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of ethnic strife between Kurds and Arabs in the north of Iraq. [108883] Clare Short: We are aware of the potential for ethnic strife which is a result of the Government of Iraq's policy of `Arabisation', which forced many Kurds, Turkomans and Assyrians from their homes in Kirkuk and other towns in the north of Iraq over the past 10 years. The coalition are monitoring the situation closely.

Secondary information