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A large number of Peshmarga veterans demonstrate in Rania, northwest of Suleimaniyah, against a Gorran member who called them a militia.

"Calling Peshmerga a militia is a red line, and is not accepted by the Kurdish people."--Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani

Thousands of people, including former Peshmerga, in most Kurdistan Region cities protested Gorran Movement MP Adnan Osman of Kurdistan Parliament after he defined the Peshmerga as a militia. Most gathered in front of Parliament and condemned the Gorran MP speech, shouting things such as "We are not militia, but we are defending Kurdistan soil and its people."

Protestors demanded Parliament lift immunity on Osman, and former Peshmerga members promised to drag Osman to court. The Peshmerga are armed Kurdish fighters--male and female--whose roots run back to the late 19th century. Their main concern is protecting Kurdish territory from outside threats. They fiercely fought Saddam Hussein's army for decades.

Kurdish MP Adnan Osman said that "the Peshmerga forces are militias, because they are controlled by political parties." Later, Kurdistan Region President Massoud Barzani angrily criticized the Gorran Movement for defaming the Peshmerga. "Those who insult the Peshmerga and its sacrifices have no place in Kurdistan.

Barzani remarked that he could live with Iraqi chauvinists calling Peshmerga bad names, but he cannot accept a Kurdish person, let alone a Kurdish MP inside Kurdistan Region Parliament, insulting and casting doubt on the legitimacy of the Peshmerga.

"If today they have the guts to denigrate the name of the Peshmerga, will tomorrow they also do this with the names of martyrs."

Massoud Barzani was a Peshmerga for many years in the Kurdistan Mountains, where he fought against Saddam Hussein's regime.

In a press conference, spokesperson of the Ministry of Peshmerga, Major Gen. Jabbar Yawar, highlighted the activities and duties of the ministry and emphasized that Kurdistan Region has one regular force that belongs to the ministry, with its own budget and regulations.

Yawar said the Ministry of Peshmerga has organized four Peshmerga battalions, and will organize the remaining battalions soon according to a new system and after ensuring the salaries and requirements of these battalions by the ministry.

Regarding upcoming parliamentary elections and the role of the Peshmerga, he said: "We made security plans for all the areas of Kurdistan Region. Peshmerga forces will take part in these plans and work according to the IHEC instructions [Iraqi Independent High Electoral Commission], where their duties will start March 5 and end March 9."

He condemned the Gorran MP statement by saying "the Peshmerga duties are according to law, where it protects Kurdistan Region territories. It is not a militia. We won't allow any person or party to lessen the Peshmerga."

He added: "The ministry will deal with such statements according to laws, and will take legal measures against anyone who criticizes Peshmerga forces."

In the Iraqi Constitution, the Peshmerga is described as an official army to protect Iraqi Kurdistan Region.