Ms.Rashid was a Kurdish immigrant from Iraq with an interest in politics.

VOA: special.2011.07.30

Morrell quoted Gates as telling President Barzani the United States has a long-term commitment to Kurdish "security, prosperity and autonomy within a united Iraq."

VOA: standard.2009.12.12

On July 31 three young Americans, Shane Bauer,Josh Fattal and Sarah Shourd were hiking in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq when they apparently strayed into Iran.

VOA: standard.2009.11.05

Ankara fears Kurdish independence in Iraq might stir up Kurdish nationalism in Turkey.

BBC: News | Who's who in post-Saddam Iraq

Mr Hashemi, who is accused of running death squads during the insurgency, is in hiding in Kurdish northern Iraq.

BBC: Iraqi bloc ends parliament boycott over Hashemi warrant

To get to two-thirds, the council will certainly need the support of the alliance that swept most of the vote in Kurdish northern Iraq.

ECONOMIST: Iraq's Shias stick with the devil they know | The