SULAIMANI, Iraq’s Kurdistan region,— Thousands of protesters took to the streets in ten cities in Iraq’s Kurdistan region on Monday, demanding salary payments and services.

Protests started in Sulaimani, Kalar, Ranya, Taqtaq, Chamchamal, Koya, Rawanduz, Halabja, Said Sadiq, and Qaladze in the Kurdistan region, NRT reported.

In Sulaimani, teachers and employees have gathered in front of education directorate and have blocked the Salim Street a main road into the city.

“The teachers are tired of this government,” a teacher told NRT.

A group from Peshmerga military are also among the protesters.

“We demand this government to leave,” a member of the Peshmerga forces said.

Another teacher, during the protest, called on Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi to help the people of the Kurdistan region.

Protesters called on the region’s people to join them in the protest against the Kurdistan Regional Government KRG authorities who they say are “corrupted.”

In Kalar, teachers also protested against the KRG austerity measures.

In Ranya, teachers and employees as well as a number of people gathered near the public garden of the city protesting against lack of services and delay of salaries.

In Taq Taq also protesters have blocked the main road between Erbil and Kirkuk. They are burning tires and tempers are running high.

In Halabja protests also erupted there and protesters have blocked the main road between Halabja-Penjwen-Sulaimani.

The people took to the streets in Said Sadiq, blocking oil tank trucks heading to Bashmakh border crossing.

“They [referring to KRG officials] are going to Germany for Christmas but we don’t have money here,” a teacher told NRT.

A group of people also took to the streets in Takiya sub-district west of Sulaimani, blocking the Kirkuk-Sulaimani main road.

Protesters in Sangasar entered police station and the building of the sub-district’s directorate.

Kurdistan considered as the most corrupted part of Iraq. According to Kurdish lawmakers billions of dollars are missing from Iraqi Kurdistan’s oil revenues.

A Kurdish lawmaker said in March 2017 the amount of $1.266 billion from oil exports and Iraqi Kurdistan’s revenue has gone missing over the last three months.

Massoud Barzani, the president of Kurdistan region from 2005-2017, has been accused by critics of amassing huge wealth for his family instead of serving the population. Barzani’s son is the Kurdistan region’s intelligence chief and his nephew Nechirvan Barzani is the prime minister.

Also the Talabani family including Jalal Talabani’s wife, Hero Ibrahim and her sons Bafel and Qubad and their relatives alongside other PUK leaders accused by observers and politicians of amassing huge wealth from oil business.

In October 2017, Iraq’s National Security Council announced that a probe has been launched into Kurdistan’s lucrative oil revenues and officials in the region who might have illegally monopolised the market.

“The corrupt will be exposed and the funds recovered,” said a statement from the council, headed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

Read more about Corruption in Iraqi Kurdistan

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