ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masrour Barzani, said on Monday that the difficult conditions being experienced in the region now are beyond the will and desire of the government, as he alerted citizens to the attempts of some people to exploit the current adverse situation for their personal interests.

In a statement, Barzani said, “The Kurdistan government is making every effort and using all its capacities to overcome the difficult financial conditions that the region, Iraq, and the world are going through.” He affirmed that the KRG “continues negotiations with the federal government to obtain the rights and financial dues of the region that have not been sent so far, even though the regional government has shown full flexibility in order to reach an agreement within the framework of the constitution.”

Barzani expressed his regret that some people are seeking to use the people's source of income for promoting their personal interests and using the pretext of defending the rights and demands of the people of Kurdistan. “They are trying to sabotage, burn and create chaos,” he said, as he called on citizens not to fall under the influence and goals of the saboteurs who aim to complicate and sabotage stability in the region.

Barzani called on the political parties to cooperate together to overcome this difficult situation and to protect peace and stability in the Kurdistan Region. He affirmed that this was everyone’s duty and that “the Kurdistan Regional Government, without a doubt feels the heavy burden and difficult life of citizens and expresses its thanks for their steadfastness, even as it considers peaceful and civilized protest a legitimate right within the framework of the law.”

However, “sabotage efforts differ from the legitimate demands of people,” the statement continued, “and the departments and institutions of the regional government are responsible for protecting the lives of citizens, including the demonstrators.”

Barzani stressed to the public the need to prevent disorder, chaos, and the resort to violence and sabotage of public and private places, including political headquarters, as he affirmed that violators will face the laws of the region.

On Monday, a young mob, consisting mostly of teenagers, set fire to the offices of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, the Kurdistan Democratic Party, the Kurdistan Islamic Union, and the Islamic Group, in addition to government buildings in Sayed Sadiq District Center in Sulaimani province, under the pretext of demanding their rights.

On Sunday, another, similar group set fire to the offices of several political parties in the center of Per Magroon district, which is also in Sulaimani province.