SULAIMANI (ESTA) — Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said he would work “hard” to meet demands of people in the Kurdistan and other Iraqi cities.
“Deeply touched by the suffering of our people in the KRI, especially in Sulaymaniyah,” Kadhimi said in a tweet late on Friday, referring to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
“Anger is understood as it results from previous years and decades. We will work hard to respond to the rights of our people in KR and all Iraqi cities,” he added.
Kadhimi’s tweet came after hundreds of people took to the streets in 16 cities and towns in the provinces of Sulaimani and Halabja as well as the administrations of Garmian and Raparin in the past five days in protest of delays in payment.
Around 10 people including eight protesters and two members of security forces were killed and more than 100 others were wounded during the demonstrations.
Angry protesters set fire to headquarters of several political parties and governments offices last week.
On Friday, Iraqi President Barham Salih met with Kadhimi, Iraqi Finance Minister Ali Allawi and Oil Minister Ihsan Abduljabbar in Baghdad.
Esta Media Network has learned that the four officials discussed an agreement between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the federal government.
A KRG delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani visited Baghdad on Wednesday to hold talks with senior Iraqi officials in an effort to reach a deal with Baghdad over oil and revenue issues as well as the Region’s share of the federal budget for 2021.
