Iraqi Kurds Review Draft Constitution
Kirkuk named "regional capital." PM Ecevit warns that Iraqi Kurds are "out of control"
James C. Helicke, The Associated Press, ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Rival Iraqi Kurdish groups have reviewed a draft constitution for Iraq in the event Saddam Hussein is ousted by the United States, but said it's not a first step toward forming an independent Kurdish state.

Word that a constitution was even being considered outraged Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit who warned that Iraqi Kurds were "out of control."

Turkey is fearful that a U.S. military operation might open the door for a Kurdish state in northern Iraq - a move it says could spark renewed fighting with Kurdish rebels who waged a 15-year war in southeastern Turkey.

The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party - which together control most of northern Iraq - discussed the draft during a meeting earlier this week, PUK official Bahroz Galali said.

"This is only a draft," Galali said. "We don't have any plans for new arrangements for Iraqi Kurdistan. ... The draft will be presented to all Iraqi (opposition) groups."

Asked about the Kurdish meetings, Ecevit said: "The situation is out of control ... A constitution has emerged in a deceiving way. It's a worrying situation that we can't accept."

"We need to talk in detail about this with the United States," Ecevit said.

Most of Northern Iraq has been out of Baghdad's control since the end of the 1991 Gulf War, but the KDP and PUK have long been at odds.

But last week delegates from the Kurdistan National Assembly met in full for the first time in six years to present a united front as Washington spells out plans for the future of Iraq.

The daily Milliyet and other Turkish newspapers reported Saturday that the draft constitution outlined Kurdish and Arabic as official languages in the region and named Kirkuk, an oil-rich city currently not under Kurdish control, as the regional capital.

"Turkish newspapers are exaggerating," Galali said, adding that the draft constitution was not discussed as part of the Assembly meeting.

Ecevit said Saturday he hoped to find a political solution to the situation.

"We will address whatever comes to hand," Ecevit said. "Our basic aim is a peaceful solution to solving the issues in Iraq without a war opening up at our border."

Turkey's support is considered crucial to any action on Iraq. U.S. jets that patrol a no-fly zone over northern Iraq use a southern Turkish base, which also served as a staging point in the 1991 Gulf War.

Turkey has expressed reservations about any new strikes on Iraq, fearful it may revive fighting with Kurdish rebels. Approximately 37,000 people have been killed in fighting between the Turkish military and rebels.

Fighting has dwindled since 1999, when the rebels declared a unilateral cease-fire, but Turkey rejected the cease-fire and sporadic clashes continue.