據俄羅斯新聞社消息，伊拉克北部庫爾德斯坦地區2月17日爆發示威游行，警察在驅散過程中與示威者發生沖突，造成至少2人死亡，40人受傷。

媒體稱，因不滿當地政府貪污腐敗，民眾高舉反對口號游行抗議并試圖進入位于蘇萊曼尼亞市(Sulaimaniya)的政府大樓，警察朝示威者開槍，導致數十人死傷。

而令據美國合眾國際新聞社報道稱，當天爆發的警民沖突造成5人死亡。

近日來，中東地區騷亂狂潮蔓延至伊拉克，造成伊拉克多個省份爆發示威游行活動。伊拉克總理馬利基日前呼吁民眾保持克制情緒，稱“歡迎民眾以和平方式行使其法律權利，但不歡迎借此機會煽動暴亂者”。

（來源：中國日報網 陳璐 編輯：任奇）

Protests in Iraqi Kurdistan leave at least two killed, 40 wounded

At least two people have been killed and 40 wounded when Iraqi police dispersed a protest demonstration in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Police opened fire at protesters when they tried to storm the government offices in the city of Sulaimaniya on Thursday, chanting slogans against corruption, the BBC said.

The United Press International news agency said five people were killed in clashes with police.

A series of protests hit Iraq amid a wave of public unrest sweeping through the Middle East and North Africa.

On Wednesday, three people were killed and several dozen injured in clashes with police in the southern Iraqi city of Kut.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has called on protesters to maintain order in the country, saying "I welcome those who demonstrate peacefully for their legitimate rights, but I am not in favor of those who exploit those claims to incite riots."