“We have received with great sadness the news of the assassination of security expert Dr. Hisham al-Hashimi in an operation carried out by outlaw gangs”, headquarters spokesman Gian Dexil said in a statement.

"While we condemn this terrorist operation, we call on the specialized authorities in Baghdad to pursue the killers and hand them over to justice so that they can be punished,” the statement quoted Barzani as saying.

Meanwhile The Presidency of the Kurdish Region in a message condemned the assassination of Iraqi analyst and political critic Hisham al-Hashimi, calling the assassination a crime against the freedom of expression.

Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani condemned the assassination, calling it a "crime against the freedom and freedom of expression,” Rudaw reported.

He expressed his sympathy with his companions and the family of Al-Hashimi and called on the Iraqi central government to identify the perpetrators of the assassination and bring them to justice and punishment in accordance with the law.

News sources reported last night that gunmen assassinated Hisham al-Hashimi in the Zayouna area of Baghdad after completing a television interview.

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