LOC12:52
09:52 GMT
IRBIL, March 7 (KUNA) -- The President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region
Massoud Barzani announced on Friday start of procedures to transform Halabja
city into a governorate without referring to the Iraqi central government in
Baghdad.
Barzani called, in an official letter directed to Kurdistan's Council
Presidency, for the region not to wait on Baghdad and start taking
administrative measures expeditiously to turn Halabja into a governorate,
Kurdistan Region Presidency said in statement.
Referring to several legal personnel, the issue of turning the city of
Halabja into a governorate falls under Kurdistan region's administrative power
circle, he noted.
In addition, Barzani indicated that since his office has not received a
response from Baghdad on the issue; therefore, a decision has been made by the
government of Kurdistan region to start procedures of changing Halabja to a
governorate in response to the locals' demands. (end)
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KUNA 071252 Mar 14NNNN