1 dead, 57 injured in northern Iraq protests

Police say around 2,000 people take part in scattered demonstrations by Kurds frustrated with tight grip of 2 ruling parties.

Iraqi police 311 (photo credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Iraqi police 311
(photo credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS)
SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq  — Police and hospital officials in the northern Iraqi city of Sulaimaniyah said Monday that one person has been killed and 47 wounded during overnight protests.
A Sulaimaniyah police official said that around 2,000 people took part in scattered demonstrations around the city, 160 miles (260 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad, late Sunday. Many Kurds are frustrated with the tight grip with which the two ruling parties control the Kurdish autonomous region.
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The official said Kurdish security forces opened fire in the air to disperse the crowd.
Hospital officials said around 20 people were shot, including a 17-year-old who later died of his wounds. The others were hit by flying stones.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media.