ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdish President Masoud Barzani called on Peshmerga commanders to meet with “thinkers” of the Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi militia in order to resolve tensions that have led to clashes and deaths on both sides. "I call on Peshmerga commanders to hold talks with Hashd thinkers to avoid these people causing sedition and igniting the flame of war and disturb the comfort of people in this area,” Barzani said in a statement about clashes in the predominantly Kurdish town of Khurmatu in Diyala province. At least six Peshmerga, an estimated 40 Hashd militiamen and four civilians have been killed in fighting that erupted Saturday and continued until after dawn on Tuesday, with guns going silent only after daylight. Scores also have been reportedly wounded, most of them Shiite militiamen. "Kurdistan’s Peshmerga forces have to defend the people of the area and halt any aggression on homes and properties of the residents of Khurmatu," Barzani said. "The events of the past few days, which led to violence and instability in the town of Khurmatu, have saddened us,” the president added. “It is very apparent that some people and parties who were the source of sedition and violence in the past too, now under new banners have a hand in causing tensions and want to create rivalry among the people of the area." After a fragile truce, the latest violence in Khurmatu erupted at 5 pm on Monday, and continued throughout the night. Those clashes reportedly reignited after the Shiite forces lobbed grenades against Kurdish troops.
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