The Iraqi Turkmen Front confirmed: "The formation of the Kirkuk government was the price of the position of the Speaker of Parliament." The Spokesman for the front, Muhammad Saman Agha, said in a statement: "The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan refused our participation in the Kirkuk Council, unlike the Democratic Party and the Arabs.. and we were able to achieve 9 seats, but we did not go to what the Patriotic Union went to." He added: "The Kirkuk government was formed in dark rooms between the Patriotic Union, Babylon and 3 Arab members, and the invitations of the leaders of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, Khaled Shawani and Ribwar Taha, for us to join them, are supposed to come to us before the session is held." He pointed out: "The Turkmen have not obtained a single position for more than 100 years, and Kirkuk was a victim of the deal to head the parliament." Source: National Iraqi News Agency