SANANDAJ, Kurdestan Province The Kurdestan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masood Barzani on Friday thanked the Iranian government and people for their warm hospitality and humanitarian assistance to Iraqi Kurdish refugees. Barzani, who was speaking to a group of Iraqi Kurdish refugees after their return home from Iran, said that Iraqi Kurds are always indebted to the Iranian nation and government. KDP radio, monitored in this western Iranian provincial city on Saturday, quoted Barzani as saying that Iran has always served as the safest haven for the Iraqi Kurish refugees under toughest conditions.

It further quoted Barzani as saying that Iraqi Kurds will never forget Iran's hospitality. The source said that 17 Iraqi Kurdish families, who had been residing in Iran for years as refugees, left Iran for home on Friday. (IRNA)