Call to postpone arms deals with Russia, NGOs

ARBIL/ Aswat al-Iraq: Tens of NGOs members gathered before the Russian consulate in Arbil, demanding the postponement of the arms deals with the Iraqi central government till further notice.

Head of the gathering Othman Bey said, in a press statement, that "we handed over a letter to the Russian consulate stating that the Iraqi people does not need arms, but services".

He called the consulate to cancel the deals till Premier Nouri al-Maliki is replaced by another, or to be postponed till further notice.

An organizer of the gathering told Aswat al-Iraq that "NGOs believe that the central government is oppressing the people".

"It should concentrate on the services and security instead of wasting public funds for un-clear arms deals", he elaborated.