Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq (cabinet.gov.krd) - In a statement, the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region Council of Ministers, condemned the Turkish air strike on Zargali village in the District of Rawanduz, martyring eight people, five of whom are villagers from the Kurdistan Region.

Following is the text of the statement:

Following Turkish air raid on Zargali village in the District of Rawanduz early this morning, eight people, five of whom are from the Kurdistan Region, were martyred and a number of others were wounded.

We condemn the martyrdom of Kurdistan Region citizens and targeting its villages. We call on Turkey to stay away from all forms of strike against villages and other populated areas of the Kurdistan Region. At the same time we call on the Kurdistan Workers' Party, PKK, to keep their forces and their headquarters away from villages and populated areas, to avoid targeting citizens of the Kurdistan Region and becoming victims of the conflict between them and Turkey.

We call on both sides to return to direct negotiations. We are ready to offer any required assistance in this regard.

Presidency of the Kurdistan Region Council of Ministers
1 August 2015