U.S. and Iraqi forces launched Operation Promise of Good in July with the aim of overrunning Shiite and al-Qaida militants in Diyala province. The deployment of Iraqi forces in Kurdish areas in the north of Diyala province, however, has threatened to erupt in violence between the Kurdish and Iraqi military units.

Kurdish President Massoud Barzani Friday spoke to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, calling on him to "contain the crisis," and a delegation of Kurdish officials traveled to the region on Monday to broker an agreement.

Talks between regional and central government officials, however, have been conflicted, though both sides describe the meetings in positive terms, Iraqi satellite television channel al-Sumaria reported.

Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh, a Kurd, said both sides would reach a settlement on the issue soon, though rival Kurds said Baghdad should have sent a negotiating team into the region rather than security forces.

Kurds in general say the move into Diyala hurts national reconciliation goals.

Kurdish officials, however, have expressed support for Iraqi forces operating to secure greater Iraq while Gen. Jibar Yawar with the Peshmerga forces described the ongoing negotiations as optimistic.

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