BAGHDAD, Nov 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iraq’s protest-hit cities saw one
of their bloodiest days yet on Thursday as a government crackdown killed
nearly 40 demonstrators following the dramatic torching of an Iranian
consulate.
The country’s capital and south have been rocked by the worst street unrest
since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, with a protest
movement venting fury at the government and its backers in neighbouring Iran.
Thursday’s violence brought the total death toll since early October to
more than 390, with more than 15,000 wounded.
The highest toll was in the flashpoint southern city of Nasiriyah, where 25
people were killed when security forces used “excessive force” to break up
rallies, according to the Iraqi Human Rights Commission.
Another two protesters were killed in Baghdad and ten died in the Shiite
shrine city of Najaf, where demonstrators had torched the Iranian consulate late Wednesday.
Crowds outraged at Tehran’s political influence in Iraq had stormed and
burned down the mission, yelling “Victory to Iraq!” and “Iran out!”
In response, Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi early Thursday ordered
military chiefs to deploy in several restive provinces to “impose security
and restore order”, the army said.
The governor of Dhi Qar province, of which Nasiriyah is the capital,
resigned later on that evening.
More than 200 people were also wounded as security forces cleared sit-ins
with live fire, medics and security sources said.
Medics in Nasiriyah said they had to carry out more than 80 life-saving
surgeries in hospitals crowded with casualties.
Dhi Qar announced three days of mourning as thousands attended funeral
processions there in defiance of a curfew announced earlier in the day. — NNN-AGENCIES
