Chamchamal: People in a town in Iraq's Sulaymaniyah province took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against two major Kurdish political blocs over public salary payment delays and perceived corruption.
This came amid demonstrations across the province in recent days, drawing hundreds.
Iraq's semi-official High Commission for Human Rights said a total of eight protesters had been killed in the areas of Chamchamal, Kefri Darbendikan, Khormal and Saidsadiq.
Also, Wednesday, the prime minister of Iraq's northern Kurdish-run region blamed the federal government in Baghdad for delaying crucial budget transfers.
Masrour Barzani added the right to peaceful protest was “vital” but condemned the violence as “unacceptable," in a statement.
The protests are largely driven by angry unemployed youth and public sector workers who have not been paid because of a severe fiscal crisis.
The Kurdish administration has only paid four months of wages since the start of 2020 and has deducted 21% from the monthly pay of public workers.
AP
