Affrontements à هه‌ڵه‌بجه Halabja : un mort – 22 mars 2011

At least 1 policeman killed in Iraq Kurd protests

REUTERS

MARCH 22, 2011

ARBIL – At least one policeman was killed and several people were wounded in clashes in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish zone on Tuesday, a senior security official and a hospital manager said.

The clashes took place in Halabja, a town notorious among Kurds as the place where ousted dictator Saddam Hussein used poison gas to kill Kurdish villagers. Iraqiya state television earlier reported two policemen had been killed.

The semi-autonomous Kurdish zone, dominated for decades by two political parties, has seen continuous protests in recent weeks against corruption and a lack of freedom, inspired by demonstrations in other parts of the Middle East and North Africa.

Kurdistan’s president, Masoud Barzani, announced plans this week to shake up the regional government and enact reforms, but demonstrators have said these fall short of their demands.

The security source said: « Protesters clashed with security forces in Halabja. One policeman was killed. Ten people were wounded including two protesters with gunshot wounds. We also have another policeman in critical condition. » Read more…

Informations

Halabja (kurde : هه‌ڵه‌بجه ou Helepçe), est une ville kurde du Kurdistan irakien, située à environ 240 km au nord-est de Bagdad et à 10–15 km de la frontière iranienne.