Police and Kurdish community representatives in Manchester are to hold further talks after a largely successful bridge-building exercise at the weekend. Participants in the closed meeting, after the arrest and release of 10 Kurds in a huge anti-terrorist operation, said that progress had been made and impetus given to plans for a Kurdish community centre in Manchester. Police expressed regret for the effect of the pre-dawn raids on the wider community and agreed a joint statement praising Kurds’ help with day-to-day policing and social issues. The Greater Manchester force is understood to be interested in promoting the community centre idea for a group largely made up of exiles from northern Iraq. Full Story