Consequently, violence and state repression in Kurdish areas has been less severe.

It was the first time that government or rebel forces moved in a substantial way into the Kurdish areas.

The war has also affected settlement patterns in the northern Kurdish areas.

"Our forces are not only confined to the Kurdish areas."

And Iraq is not about to give up Kurdish areas that account for one-third of its oil production.

The city's Kurdish areas seemed to have a higher turnout.

By the beginning of 2006, the two Kurdish areas were merged into one unified region.

In the Shiite and Kurdish areas, the strategy clearly failed.

The military were present outside many polling stations within the Kurdish area.

However, economic activity, including investments, seems at this stage to have more potential in the safest Kurdish area.