A statement by the independent  Kurdish weekly of Hawlati said that the Sulaimani administration of the Kurdistan regional government has cut off electricity supply from the newspaper’s office. The newspaper stated "Apologies for our readers. Since the last few days, the KRG  has cut off electricity from our office on the excuse that there is a shortage of electricity. We are unable upload the latest issue of Hawlati until Friday 30.Sep.2005".  Founded in Nov 2000 by a group of young journalists and writers, Hawlati reports on sensitive social and political issues which were are not covered in the mainstream media.

Hawlati editor Asos Herdi

Erdogan reacted harshly to Washington Times column accusing him of trying to turn Turkey from moderate Muslim state to 'Islamofascist' regime. 'This article is unethical,' he says. 'You can't judge the prime minister of Turkey in this way.' He adds that his staff will reply to the right-wing paper, reported thenewanatolian.com

Kurdish guerrillas have killed two village guards employed by Turkish military junta in Northern Kurdistan. The attack occurred late on Sunday on the main road linking the towns of Sirnak and Hakkari in Northern Kurdistan, the local governor's office said in a statement, reported Reuters.

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Shirwan Ameen, top aide of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, said that Kurdish leaders are currently mediating between the Iraqi and Syrian governments to tackle the security file. "Kurdish politicians have good relations with Syrian officials that enable them to play an important role improving ties between the two countries," Ameen said, reported Al-Hayat.

Delegates of 47 political parties active in Southern Kurdistan met in its capital Irbil on 22 September to meet before the upcoming referendum on the constitution draft. Representatives of the KDP and PUK along with Turkoman, Chaldean, and Assyrian parties attended the meeting. The parties agreed on their common support for a "Yes" vote. They also decided to set up a committee that will coordinate a "Yes" campaign.

It was Winston Churchill, as colonial secretary, who remarked, “I do not understand this squeamishness about the use of gas. I am strongly in favor of using poison gas against uncivilized tribes, for instance the Kurds in northern Iraq."  More...

The famous Kurdish singer, Marziyeh Feriqi, pass away yesterday after a failed surgical operation in Sweden, reported Radio Nawa. Marziya Feriqi was the wife of the famous Kurdish singer, Nassir Rezazi. Merziya was born in the Kurdish town of Mariwan in Eastern Kurdistan.

A provincial official of the main pro-Kurdish party was arrested Saturday over his alleged role in a violent demonstration in favor of Abdullah Ocalan earlier this month, Turkish Anatolia news agency reported.  Abdurrahman Dogar, regional chairman of the People's Democratic Party (DEHAP) in province of Wan, Northern Kurdistan, was accused of "spreading propaganda in favor of an illegal organization" and "inciting people to violence," Anatolia said.

Iyad Allawi: Iraq is Moving towards an Abyss and is facing a Disaster. The Iranian Interference is Actually a Reality.

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Five Turkish soldiers were killed and three others wounded Sunday in clashes with Kurdish fighters in Northern Kurdistan, reported AFP.  PKK peshmerga opened fire with machine guns on Yeniyazi military police station in Dersim province, killing one soldier and wounding two others.  It was the first strike on an army position for several years in the region, which had been at the epicenter of fighting at the height of the Kurds' armed campaign for self-rule. Two other clashes took place at Sirnak region leaving four soldiers dead and one injured.

Iyad Allawi

In his speech to Kurdistan Parliament yesterday, the President of Southern Kurdistan Barzani said that "At the end of the constitution, there is an article in the constitution which says that keeping Iraq’s unity is conditioned by commitment to this constitution and this can be concluded as a self- determination right."