ERBIL-Hewler, Kurdistan region ‘Iraq’,— Two protesters are dead and at least 17 others injured after protests in the Kurdish town of Qaladze in Iraqi Kurdistan region turned violent Friday.

Demonstrators gathered outside the mayor’s office in Qaladze, 100 km east of Kurdistan capital city of Erbil, during the afternoon and called on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to pay employees’ salaries and bring an end to the ongoing presidency and economic crises.

Friday’s demonstration turned violent when protesters changed their planned course and headed towards the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) in Qaladize throwing stones, officials said.

KDP guards shot into the crowd, killing two and injuring 17 others. Four security forces were also reportedly injured in clashes, NRT reported.

Angry demonstrators then attacked the building, setting it on fire.

“The firing came from the KDP,” said Hawsar Wshyar Mohammed Amin, a member of the Sulaimani provincial council from former opposition party Gorran.

But Hamid Qaladizei, a member of the KDP branch in the city, denied the bullets had been fired from there, and said it was not to blame for the man’s death.

“We acted very responsibly,” Qaladizei said. “There are people behind these protesters who are provoking them. The number of police is insufficient to protect us and control the situation.”

The KDP, Gorran and three of the region’s other parties have been wrangling over the terms of an extension for Massoud Barzani’s presidency since it expired on Aug. 20.

The stalemate has polarized Kurdish politics and compounded an economic crisis that began in early 2014 when Baghdad slashed funds to the region. A drop in oil prices that has pushed the region to the verge of bankruptcy.

KDP offices in the nearby towns of Zharawa, Hajiawa and Sangasar were also attacked late Friday, with the protesters setting the Zharawa building on fire.

Security forces moved into the area following the demonstrations to maintain order.

The Kurdistan Region’s three major cities – Erbil, Duhok and Sulaimani – are on high security alert as protests spread across the northern provinces and tensions remain high.

Security forces have set up a perimeter around the Change Movement (Gorran) party offices in Duhok and Erbil to prevent retaliatory attacks by KDP supporters.

Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s political parties suspended their ninth meeting on the presidency issue Thursday after failing to reach a final agreement.

Massoud Barzani has led Kurdistan region as president from 2005 for two executive terms and his last term was extended in 2013 by ruling KDP and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) for two more years on the condition that he can no longer run as president.

Iraqi Kurdistan parliament speaker, Yousif Mohammed Sadiq said last August “Extending Barzani term is against the laws in Kurdistan. Law No. 19 passed in 2013 … clearly says the president’s term ends on Aug. 19 and cannot be extended,” Sadiq added.

KDP leader Masoud Barzani urged the Kurdistan Region’s security forces and government agencies to address growing unrest in the region.

The last serious bout of unrest in the region was in 2011, when Kurds protested against corruption and nepotism, inspired by popular uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa.

Source: eKurd