Strict security measures in Sulaimaniya to face new demonstration

SULAIMANIYA / IraqiNews.com: The security forces in northern Iraq’s Kurdish city of Sulaimaniya have strengthened their security measures to face the outbreak of new demonstrations, whilst a civil activist expressed readiness to launch a demonstration, according to a security source on Saturday.   “The security bodies in Sulaimaniya city have strengthened their measures in the city, especially around al-Sarai Square at the center of Sulaimaniya, along with setting up a number of checkpoints, to protect the safety of citizens and avoid anarchy or clashes during the demonstrations,” the security source told IraqiNews.com news agency.   On his part, the Civil Activist, Shwan Raouf, told IraqiNews.com that “the demonstrators were forced to disperse by security elements, who arrested two journalists, who were released later, in order to prevent reporters to cover the demonstration.”   “Being an activist and observer, I think that the demonstrators are determined to demonstrate, in order to continue Friday demonstrations, whilst the slogans raised by the demonstrators are the same as those raised during previous demonstrations,” Raouf said.   Thousands of demonstrators in Sulaimaniya city have been demanding, since February 17th last, the carrying out of political reforms, ending corruption, achieving social justice and securing freedom of expression.   At least 7 persons have been killed and over 100 others were injured during the first days of the demonstrations, after the demonstrators stoned the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party and attempts to break through it, thing that made its guards to open fire on the demonstrators, thing that had created a state of tension in Kurdistan Region, where demonstrations had spread out to other areas of Sulaimaniya, that witnessed joint violence and shooting.   SKH (TI)/SR 708