February
21, 2011
ERBIL-Hewlęr,
Kurdistan region 'Iraq', — The main political
parties in northern Iraq's Kurdistan Region have
began a meeting in Erbil to discuss the current
security developments in the Region, following the
recent demonstrations in Sulaimaniyah city, a source
close to the meeting said.
"The meeting is scheduled to discuss the current
developments in Kurdistan Region, especially after
the clashes that took place in Sulaimaniyah city
during the past few days," the source told Aswat
al-Iraq news agency.
The same source, who attended the meeting said: "the
extensive meeting of the Kurdistan parties was held
at the headquarters of the Region's Council of
Ministers, led by Kurdistan premier Barham Salih,
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Kurdistan parliament. Main Iraqi Kurdistan parties
meeting convenes to discuss security situation. Feb
21, 2011 |
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with the participation
of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), the opposition
Gorran (Change) Movement, the Islamic Union, the
Islamic Group, the Kurdistan Socialist Party and the
Iraqi Communist Party."
A teenage boy was
killed and 48
people were wounded Sunday evening when hundreds of
demonstrators clashed with Kurdish security forces
in Sulaimaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan, officials said.
On Saturday, clashes between police and protesters
in Sulaimaniyah injured 14 people, according to a
regional health official. 1,500 protesters had
attempted to march to Salem street in the centre of
the city,www.ekurd.netthe
site of violent
demonstrations that left two young
men dead and 54 wounded on Thursday.
Hundreds of
demonstrators
have gone to the streets in Sulaimaniyah city last
Thursday, demanding the improvement of public
services and living standards, fighting corruption
and taking political reforms, causing 7 people
killed and 42 others injured, following shooting
that took place in front of KDP's headquarters in
the city, where the demonstrators gathered.
Most of the demonstrators opposed Massoud Barzani,
Kurdistan regional president, and the ruling
Kurdistan Democratic Party.
The violence followed another demonstration by
hundreds of students at Sulaimaniyah University
seeking the release of people arrested in previous
protests and the prosecution of a local party
official they said ordered security forces to open
fire.
On Thursday, Barzani issued a statement saying the
protests were the work of a "very small group of
people determined to undermine the stability of the
region."
The KDP, led by Kurdistan president Massoud Barzani,
and the PUK, led by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani,
have for decades lorded over Kurdistan.
Massoud Barzani and his
relatives control a large number of commercial
enterprises in Kurdistan-Iraq, with a gross value of
several billion US dollars. The family is routinely
accused of corruption and nepotism by Kurdish media
as well as international observers.
The Governor of Sulaimaniyah, Bahruz Saleh,
meanwhile imposed a curfew on the city from 07:00 pm
to 07:00 am, local time, whilst three of Gorran
Movement's positions in the Region were attacked,
along with breaking through and burning of party
positions in Erbil, Duhok and Soran cities, causing
no casualties.
The said Kurdistan's main political parties have
called for the said emergency meeting to discuss the
crisis caused by the demonstrations and their
aftermath.
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author or news agency,
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