ANKARA, Feb. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesmanNamik Tan said on Wednesday that some rules were violated duringthe Iraqi elections held in late January.

    Some of the Iraqi Christians living in Stockholm claimed thatthey were prevented from casting their vote, Tan said in a weeklypress briefing.

    He expressed regret over the low turnout of some ethnic groups,saying "we consider it a matter that should be compensated rapidlyand fairly."

    "We think that results will not reflect the real strength ofethnic groups at the constituent assembly. It is obvious that newmeasures should be taken to establish democracy properly in Iraq,"Tan said.

    Ankara strongly opposes Kurdish control of Kirkuk, the oil-richnorthern Iraqi city, which many Kurds want to incorporate intotheir enclave in northern Iraq and even see as the capital of afuture independent Kurdish state.

    Turkey fears that separatist moves in northern Iraq may spillover to its own land which is home to a large population of Kurds.Turkish leaders have made a series of warnings since mid-Januarywhen the Iraqi Kurds reached a deal with Baghdad, clearing the wayfor an estimated 100,000 Kurds to return to Kirkuk to vote in theparliamentary elections. Enditem