BAGHDAD, Oct 26 (NNN-NINA) – At least 30 people have been killed and more than 2,300 wounded, as thousands of angry Iraqis rallied Friday, in some Iraqi cities, including the capital, in a new wave anti-government demonstrations over living conditions.
Since early morning, protesters swarmed into the Tahrir Square in downtown Baghdad, on the eastern side of the Tigris River and tried to cross the nearby al-Jumhouriyah Bridge to reach the Green Zone, the government’s administrative centre, but were prevented by riot police.
The repeated attempts to cross the bridge prompted the security forces to completely close it with three-metre-high concrete blocks.
Protests also broke out on Friday in other cities in several southern and central provinces, including Dhi Qar, Basra, Maysan, Diwaniya, Muthanna, Karbala, Wasit and Najaf, where protesters called for reform, accountability for corruption and job opportunities.
The clashes resulted in the killing of 30 people, including security members. Eight people were killed in Baghdad, nine in Maysan and Dhi Qar each and four in both Basra and Muthanna.
Most of the casualties occurred as a result of gunshot wounds, tear gas and rubber bullets.”
The number of wounded rose to 2,312, including both the demonstrators and security forces, mostly in Baghdad, where 1,493 people were wounded.
Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, called on both the protesters and the security forces to be fully committed to peaceful demonstrations and prevent violence.
The demonstrations came, after Prime Minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi made a televised speech, in which he warned of chaos, if the government resigns, and promised a cabinet reshuffle, more job opportunities and to prosecute corrupt officials.
On Monday, a high-level panel tasked to probe the killing of some 149 protesters and eight security members, during the previous wave of anti-government protests announced its final report, and suggested sacking and prosecuting a number of security officers.
The panel confirmed that there were no direct orders from high-level security authority, to open fire at protesters. Some security officers used excessive force with live ammunition due to their “weak command and control during the protests” that led to high casualties.– NNN-NINA
