Barzani called the tragedy "another chapter" of the atrocities committed by the former Iraqi regime.

On April 24, 1974, the Iraqi Ba'athist regime carried out a napalm bomb attack on the border town of Qaladize, where the University of Sulaimani was located. Hundreds, including students and lecturers, were killed in the attack.

"Today marks the 50th anniversary of the bombardment of the city of Qaladiza and the university of Sulaimani by the former Iraqi regime," Barzani wrote in a statement, paying tribute to those who were killed.

He added: "Peace be upon the souls of the martyrs of that tragedy and all of the martyrs of Kurdistan."

The former regime was responsible for numerous atrocities against the Iraqi people, particularly the Kurds. This included the chemical bombings of Halabja and the Anfal ethnic cleansing campaign.

Saddam Hussein, the dictator of the former regime, was toppled in 2003 by a US-led coalition and Kurdish forces. He was tried for crimes against humanity and other violations, and executed in Baghdad in December 2006. (ILKHA)