SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) should accelerate steps to resolve issues with Baghdad and to end salary delays in the Region, deputy speaker of Iraqi parliament said on Tuesday.
First Deputy Speaker of the Iraqi Council of Representatives Hassan Kaabi said the issue of salary delays in the Kurdistan Region “is not related to the loan law” adopted by the Iraqi Council of Representatives last month.
“The issue started four years ago,” the deputy speaker said in a statement.
“We call on the Region to open the door of negotiations with Baghdad’s government to find an appropriate solution to all the dossiers within the framework of constitution, particularly the payment issue,” he added.
Kaabi also called on the KRG to take “serious steps” to resolve the issues with the federal government.
“The issues will increase if the situation remains this way and protesters are not listened,” the deputy speaker added.
Hundreds of people protested in Sulaimani province against salary delays and lack of services on Sunday and Monday. Three protesters were killed and dozens were wounded on Monday protests. Angry protesters set fire to headquarters of political parties in several places in the province.
In Said Sadiq, protesters torched mayor’s building and traffic police station.
Anti-government demonstrations continued in Takya, Khurmal, Penjwen, Kifri and several other places in the province of Sulaimani.
