Iraqi Kurdistan’s opposition condemns use of force against sit-in demonstrations.

SULAIMANIYA / IraqiNews.com: North Iraq’s Kurdistan Region’s opposition have condemned the use of force against sit-in demonstrations, pointing out that any dialogue with the authorities must stem out from its demands for reforms.   “The opposition has discussed the current situation in Kurdistan with spirit of responsibility, announcing its condemnation for ending the sit-in demonstrations by force, that reflects the supression of civilian and political freedoms,” a statement by the opposition said after its meeting in Sulaimaniya on Saturday.   The statement also condemned the detention of university professors and students, religious men, intellectuals, journalists and simple citizens,” the statement added.   The opposition leaders had met in Sulaimaniya city on Saturday, to define their attitudes towards the recent incidents in the city, where it said had witnessed armed attacks by the security forces against the demonstrators.   “The opposition’s sharing in any dialogue with the ruling Parties in Kurdistan (the Kurdistan Democratic Party and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan), must be based on its previous demands to carry out broad political reforms, putting an end for administrative corruption and sending the elements, who opened fire on the demonstrators to justice,” the statement stressed.   It said that “the authority, instead of responding to the opposition’s demands, had sent thousands of its Peshmergas (Kurdish government fighters) to Sulaimaniya, using their arms in the political conflict.”   Clashes between Kurdish security forces and demonstrators took place in Sulaimaniya city over the past few days, causing several casualties on both sides, in an attempt by the authorities to put an end to the sit-in demonstration, continuing since February 17 th last.   SKH (RT)