Victims of the Halabja massacre by Iraq's late dictator Saddam Hussein are being commemorated at the scene of the savage mass killing of 5 thousand Kurdish civilians on 16 March 1988.

Thousands of people in the town of Halabja are attending the commemoration ceremony for their fellow townsmen and women murdered with chemical weapons, which is taking place in the area behind the Halabja Monument.

Large numbers of people from many provinces and towns in South Kurdistan have arrived the town early in the morning.

This year's commemoration ceremony is being attended by YNK founder Jalal Talabani's wife Hero İbrahim Ahmed, Kurdistan Regional Government Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, KCK executive Ferhan Amara, Sosyalist Party Leader Heme Haci Mahmut as well as representatives of many political parties and non-governmental organizations.

Following a visit to the cemetery of the victims in the morning, KCK executives visited the Halabja Monument. The commemoration, where Dutch and German consulate representatives are also present, is continuing.