A view of the city of Kirkuk shows a flame from an oilfield in the distance, October 25, 2010.
Four protesters were shot dead on Saturday in clashes between ethnic groups in Kirkuk that broke out after days of tensions.
But security forces had deployed additional troops on the streets to "prevent violence and protect civilians", he said.
Military helicopters flew over the city on Sunday, according to four Kirkuk residents who spoke to Reuters by phone.
Arab residents and minority groups, who say they suffered under Kurdish rule, have protested the KDP's return to the city.
Persons:
Saad Shalash, Amir Shwani, Shwani, Ahmed Rasheed, Ros Russell, Hugh Lawson
Organizations:
REUTERS, Security, SULAIMANIYA, Police, Kurdistan Democratic Party, KDP, Military, Reuters, Sunday, Iraq's Shi'ite, Thomson
Locations:
Kirkuk, Iraq