Iraq's two top Kurdish parties to run jointly in January election (AFP)

Iraq’'s two main Kurdish political parties will run for the country's landmark general elections in January on the same list, the leader of one of the groups revealed. The Kurdish political powers have reached an agreement to present a joint list for the general elections as well as for the Kurdish parliament," said Massud Barzani, who heads the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

He was speaking from his Salaheddin stronghold in northern Iraq after meeting with Jalal Talabani, whose Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) is the Kurdish community's other major party.

"We call on the people of Kurdistan to participate in the elections as we need every single vote to obtain as many seats as possible in the Iraqi national assembly," said Talabani at a joint press conference.

"The current situation obliges us to put the future of Kurdistan before our own individual interests and join the same list to guarantee the rights of the Kurdish people in Iraq," Barzani added.

On January 30, Iraqis are due to choose the 275 members of the national assembly. The Kurds will also pick the 111 members of their autonomous parliament.