Turkomen protesters, here we go again

[usmc4669]

Turkomen protesters, who chained themselves to the barricade outside the Iraqi Governing Council office in Baghdad, react as a US soldier in civilian clothes tries to remove it during their protest Saturday Feb. 28, 2004 in Iraq. The Turkomen minority are demanding they be considered for the Council's drafting of the new Iraqi constitution. Saturday is the deadline set by the US for the Governing Council to submit a draft of their consitution which hit a roadblock after several Shiite members walked out of last-minute talks in a dispute over the role of Islamic law and women's rights. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban
See picture below.

[namgrunt]

If they're "turkomen", what are they doing living in Iraq? Isn't Turkey their home?

[greybeard]

Not really. They've been a nomadic bunch for centuries, and originated on the steppes area north east of Iran. What is today Turikistan, was part of the old Soviet Union. They have enclaves all over Asia, from Jordan to Mongolia. They claim Kirkut, as do the Kurhds. This is the source of the Turkoman problem in Iraq. They are arguing over how many seats tey will get in the new govt and whether or no the constitution, now being worked on, will provide protection for them.