Azerbaijan, Baku, April 23 /Trend A.Taghiyeva /
Anti-government rallies are underway in the Iraqi province of Kirkuk involving hundreds of people who accuse the authorities of oppressing the Sunni, TRT Haber TV channel reported on Tuesday.
At least 26 people were killed and many others were wounded as a result of clashes between the army of protesters.
Mass rallies in Iraq began after the assassination attempt on Sunni Finance Minister Rafi al-Issawi in February 2013. Mass protests began following the assassination attempt in the Sunni province of Anbar, where participants accused the authorities of opposing Sunnis.
Rising tension in Iraq is linked to the confrontation between the two major Islamic communities - Sunnis and Shiites. According to the 1997 population census, 66 per cent of Iraq's population are Shia Muslims with 34 per cent Sunni.