Iraqi Kurdistan leader demands PKK withdrawal from region

IRBIL, Aug 1 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Kurdistan President, Massoud Barzani demanded Saturday that militant organization, Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leave the region after a Turkish army bombardment in the capital Irbil, killed eight civilians and injured nine others.
Barzani also called on the Turkish army to cease hostilities, urging both sides to resume peace negotiations.
The Turkish military is conducting tandem military operations against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the PKK, in retaliation to the July 20 massacre in the town of Suruc, where a suicide bomber killed 32 people.
Moreover, Turkish security forces have rounded up more than 1,300 people accused of links to ISIL and the PKK. Turkish warplanes have intensified its attacks on ISIL positions in Syria and PKK hideouts in northern Iraq. (end) sbr.nam