Demonstrations cut main highway with Iran

DIALA / IraqiNews.com: Dozens of people have demonstrated in northeast Iraq’s city of Khanquin, 170 km to the east of Baghdad on Monday, in protest against Iran’s drying of al-Wand River, stemming from Iran and pouring into its agricultural territories.   “Dozens of inhabitants of Khanaquin and Civil Society activists have demonstrated in the city on Monday, cutting the main international highway, linking Iraq with Iran, where visitors and trucks, carrying Iranian commodities pass through,” IraqiNews.com news agency correspondent reported.   He said “the demonstrators have demanded to implement their demands, calling for the reopening of al-Wand River’s water, being the main source for drinking and irrigation water in Khanquin,” and threatening to continue their demonstration and sit-in activities till the implementation of their demands in releasing the River’s water, that had caused draught and destruction of thousands of donums of agricultural lands.”   Al-Wand River stems of Dalahu Mountains in Iran’s Kermanshah Province, to pass through Khanquin city, 155 km to the northeast of Baaquba, and then unite with Sirwan River, also stemming from Iran, with both rivers joining Diala River, that pours into Iraq’s Tigris River.   Baaquba, the center of Diala Province, is 57 km to the northeast of Baghdad.   SKH (TI)/SR 762