Biden warns against clashes with Kurdish forces as "red line"

BAGHDAD/ Aswat al-Iraq: Kuwaiti Al-Siyasa daily, quoting high ranking Kurdish source, said that US vice-president Joe Biden informed Iraqi premier Nouri al-Maliki that "clashes with Kurdish Beishmarga forces are red lines" and the American forces will intervene if fighting erupted in Kirkuk or any other area.

The paper added that Biden accused Iran and Syria as the main source for forming Dijla military command.

It said that US diplomats began their contacts with both sides to end the crisis and to reach a common agreement for administering the disputed areas, as well as disseminating Iraqi forces inside Kurdistan and security check-points in Arbil and Sulaimaniya airports.

"Proposals were made to disseminate US forces in the disputed areas to prevent any future clashes, but Maliki rejected it", the paper added.