Iraq's President supports Kurdish demonstrators demands

Iraq's President supports Kurdish demonstrators demands

2011-03-18 04:36:54 GMT+7 (ICT)

SULAIMANIYA, IRAQ (BNO NEWS) -- Iraq's President and the Chairman of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), Jalal Talabani, announced on Thursday his support for the demands of demonstrators in the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniya, the Aswat al-Iraq news agency reported.

"We, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, express support for peaceful meetings, demonstrations and sit-in occasions; and strongly oppose any violence acts or the use of arms against the demonstrators," Talabani said.

Hundreds of protesters have taken to the streets in Sulaimaniya for the past month to demand better living conditions, an end to corruption, and political reforms. Security forces have used water cannons and fired shots into the air to disperse protesters, injuring hundreds and killing at least seven protesters.

Talabani reassured in a message that the Kurdistan government would strive to achieve those demands and stressed that defendants using violence would get their punishment. He added that reforms were going to be implemented to end corruption and injustice.

"We support all your legitimate demands and strive to accelerate their achievement, as well as guaranteeing decent life and freedoms for you (demonstrators)," he said.

The Kurdish Parliamentary opposition, which possesses 35 out of 111 parliamentary seats, had announced support for the demands of the protesters and issued a 20-point reform program, they consider as basic to overcome the crisis witnessed by Kurdistan Region.

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