Main Iraqi Kurdistan Parties meeting convenes to discuss security situation

ARBIL / IraqiNews.com: The main political parties in northern Iraq’s Kurdistan Region have began a meeting in Arbil to discuss the current security developments in the Region, following the recent demonstrations in Sulaimaniya 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 Sulaimaniya city during the past few days,” the source told Iraqi News. 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 Premier Barham Saleh, with the participation of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the Kurdisan Democratic Party (KDP), the opposition Goran (Change) Movement, the Islamic Union, the Islamic Group, the Kurdistan Socialist Party and the Iraqi Communist Party.” Noteworthy is hundreds of demonstrators have gone to the streets in Sulaimaniya 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. The Governor of Sulaimaniya, Bahruz Saleh, meanwhile imposed a curfew on the city from 07:00 pm to 07:00 am, local time, whilst three of Goran Movement’s positions in the Region were attacked, along with breaking through and burning of party positions in Arbil, Dohuk 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. SKH (TS)/SR 493