Burning of KDP Baghdad office was ‘criminal’: PMF head
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — The head of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) decried the Saturday burning of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) offices in Baghdad by supporters of the paramilitary network, describing the act as ‘criminal’ to state media.
In a televised interview, Faleh al-Fayyad told state media outlet al-Akhbaria of his disappointment in the event, which saw PMF (known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi) supporters set the building alight, burn the Kurdistan Region’s flag, and step on photographs of KDP leader Masoud Barzani.
"We are ashamed the Hashd flag was raised over the party building," said Fayyad.
The riot started with a protest on Saturday morning in front of the offices of the KDP, the Kurdistan Region’s ruling party, following critical comments by senior KDP official Hoshyar Zebari about the militia network.
Kurdistan Region officials, including President Nechirvan Barzani, condemned Saturday's attack and called on the Iraqi government to launch an investigation and undertake arrests.
Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani announced on Saturday that he asked Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi to investigate the incident.
"I have spoken to PM @MAKadhimi and called for an immediate investigation and for the outlaws responsible to be held to account," PM Barzani said on Twitter.
The Iraqi government condemned the attack at an emergency session of the Security Council headed by Kadhimi.
The government also said it would assess "the role of the security forces responsible for protecting the building and its surroundings", according to the statement, and "does not tolerate any breach of the security" in Iraq.
In a televised interview, Faleh al-Fayyad told state media outlet al-Akhbaria of his disappointment in the event, which saw PMF (known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi) supporters set the building alight, burn the Kurdistan Region’s flag, and step on photographs of KDP leader Masoud Barzani.
"We are ashamed the Hashd flag was raised over the party building," said Fayyad.
The riot started with a protest on Saturday morning in front of the offices of the KDP, the Kurdistan Region’s ruling party, following critical comments by senior KDP official Hoshyar Zebari about the militia network.
Kurdistan Region officials, including President Nechirvan Barzani, condemned Saturday's attack and called on the Iraqi government to launch an investigation and undertake arrests.
Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Masrour Barzani announced on Saturday that he asked Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi to investigate the incident.
"I have spoken to PM @MAKadhimi and called for an immediate investigation and for the outlaws responsible to be held to account," PM Barzani said on Twitter.
The Iraqi government condemned the attack at an emergency session of the Security Council headed by Kadhimi.
The government also said it would assess "the role of the security forces responsible for protecting the building and its surroundings", according to the statement, and "does not tolerate any breach of the security" in Iraq.