(AINA) -- The ruling Kurdish parties in north Iraq, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), have announced they will eliminate 22 of 42 government ministries. The ministries to be eliminated are run by opposition parties. Quoting an unnamed senior government official, KurdishMedia.com reported that the plan is worrying to people, particularly those employees who belong to other parties. He added "For instance, the Ministry of Environment will be dissolved and most employees, who belong to the Kurdish Islamic Group, will be sent home."

The move is seen as an attempt to consolidate power after opposition parties made significant gains in the July 25 elections. Kurdish media have reported that civil workers were fired for voting for opposition parties in those elections (AINA 8-11-2009). In addition, opposition parties accused the KDP and PUK of election rigging and violence (AINA 7-28-2009, 7-27-2009).

Hawlati newspaper reported that the PUK will change Sulaimaniyah party and administrative officials who, they believe, were behind the Kurdistani List's failure in the July 25 elections. According to Hawlati, the officials who are listed to be changed are Sulaimaniyah Head of Municipality Omer Mahwi, Sulaimaniyah Mayor Zana Hama Salih, and Sulaimaniyah University President Dr. Ali Saeed. Also, the PUK is trying to remove Sulaimaniyah Governor Dana Ahmed Majeed by finding ways to take legal action against him. After changing administrative officials, the PUK will change party officials gradually like the Head of the PUK's First Center in Sulaimamiyah Barzan Ahmed Kurda.

Aso newspaper reported that in the next two days the KRG Appellate Court is to announce its response to election complaints by parties like the Change List and the Service and Reform List about violations practiced during the July 25 IKP elections. After the courts officially respond to the complaints, KRG President Masoud Barzani will call the new Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament to hold its first session.

Nineveh Plain Under Threat

According to Aswat al-Iraq news agency, Kurdish Brotherhood List member in Nineveh Mustafa Jameel al-Sinjari said, "The areas where religious and ethnic minorities live in Nineveh are facing a great threat as armed organizations have mustered their strength while the local administration in Nineveh was turning a blind eye." He added that the armed groups have mobilized themselves in Nineveh areas where there are minorities like Shiites, Yazidis, and Christians. He asked the Iraqi federal government to intervene.