"The pershmergas and the Americans entered Kirkuk when the population staged an uprising," Kurdish commander Hosman Bani Marani told AFP, referring to the Kurdish irreglar fighters.

"When the Iraqis finished retiring, the population rose up. There was limited fighting near the airport.

"We went in to stabilise the situation."

A US soldier who would not identify himself added, "We entered because of an uprising in the city."

But he said that pershmergas already inside Kirkuk had triggered the urprising as the Iraqis were finishing their retirement.

US troops went in "to ensure stability," he added.

Asked if US and Kurdish forces now controlled most of Kirkuk, he added, "Pretty much."

SPACE.WIRE