.- At least 48 people were injured on Monday in the second consecutive day of clashes between protesters and security forces in the city of Sulaimaniya in northern Iraq, police and hospital sources said. The popular discontent in the semi-autonomous Kurdish regional government targets for decades dominated by two political parties, whose former guerrilla groups have been converted into security forces.
Security forces fired bullets and used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, wounding six of them, while 42 policemen were hit by stones and other objects thrown at them, police and health officials. At least 35 were injured yesterday in Sulaimaniya, the second largest city in the central region and continuing protests since February.
In the regional capital Arbil, dozens of students tried to gather near a university, but were attacked by security officials told Reuters a Kurdish lawmaker. "I saw many protesters on the ground and being beaten by security forces," he told Reuters Kiyani Mohammed, a Kurdish politician.
"When I tried to stop the beating of demonstrators on the ground, police surrounded me. I was beaten and taken to a police vehicle," he said. Kiyani said he was freed after a police officer recognized him as a member of Parliament. Rekawt Hama Rasheed, CEO of the health office in Sulaimaniya, said the hospital received 48 people injured, including two protesters who suffered gunshot wounds and others who were injured by batons and tear gas.
Most of the wounded refused to be admitted to the hospital for fear of being arrested, witnesses and hospital sources. Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani, announced last month plans to launch reforms, but protesters have said their demands were not met. In recent weeks, Iraq has been hit by protests around the country inspired uprisings in the Arab world.
The protesters have demanded better public services and to end corruption, but in general do not seek the removal of the central government installed in December after elections in March 2010. 
Security forces fired bullets and used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, wounding six of them, while 42 policemen were hit by stones and other objects thrown at them, police and health officials. At least 35 were injured yesterday in Sulaimaniya, the second largest city in the central region and continuing protests since February.
In the regional capital Arbil, dozens of students tried to gather near a university, but were attacked by security officials told Reuters a Kurdish lawmaker. "I saw many protesters on the ground and being beaten by security forces," he told Reuters Kiyani Mohammed, a Kurdish politician.
"When I tried to stop the beating of demonstrators on the ground, police surrounded me. I was beaten and taken to a police vehicle," he said. Kiyani said he was freed after a police officer recognized him as a member of Parliament. Rekawt Hama Rasheed, CEO of the health office in Sulaimaniya, said the hospital received 48 people injured, including two protesters who suffered gunshot wounds and others who were injured by batons and tear gas.
Most of the wounded refused to be admitted to the hospital for fear of being arrested, witnesses and hospital sources. Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani, announced last month plans to launch reforms, but protesters have said their demands were not met. In recent weeks, Iraq has been hit by protests around the country inspired uprisings in the Arab world.
The protesters have demanded better public services and to end corruption, but in general do not seek the removal of the central government installed in December after elections in March 2010.
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