Kurdistan PM pledges more reforms

SULAIMANIYA / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Burham Saleh pledged Sunday to continue political reforms and solve the problems facing the semi-autonomous region. Saleh’s remarks came during ceremonies marking the 20th anniversary of the 1991 uprising in Iraq’s Kurdistan, which has been launched from the city of Raniya, about 130 km northeast of the Kurdish province of Sulaimaniya. “The Kurdistan uprising was the fruit of the strife of the Kurdish people as a whole. The gains obtained by this upheaval were the fruit of sacrifices by the martyrs, peshmerga and political parties,” Saleh said during the commemoration, attended by a number of government officials and popular figures. He pointed out that the Kurdistan region has taken large strides on the road to reconstruction and development. “The Kurdistan Regional Government Kurdistan RegionG) will take upon its shoulders the responsibility of closely watching the situation for a better and brighter future.” Thousands of demonstrators in Sulaimaniya have been calling since Feb. 17 for political reforms, social justice, freedom of expression and an end to corruption. “Demonstration is a legitimate right for all citizens. Kurdistan takes pride in its youths who offer their demands to the government and the public opinion in a civilized way,” Saleh added. Seven people were killed and more than 100 others wounded in clashes between demonstrators and security forces during a wave or protests that swept Sulaimaniya. AmR (TS) 951