BAGHDAD, Jan 26 (NNN-NINA) – Iraqi security forces, on Saturday, reopened bridges, squares and roads across Iraq, which were blocked during the past few months, by anti-government protests.
A statement by the Baghdad Operations Command (BOC), said that, the security forces reopened al-Ahrar Bridge and the squares of Tayran and Cordoba, and nearby highway named, Mohammed al-Qassim.
The BOC also said that the security forces and Baghdad municipality, started to clean the scenes and lift concrete barricades in al-Khalani Square, near al-Tahrir Square, and the security forces are preparing to reopen al-Sinak Bridge, in downtown Baghdad.
Some protesters are still holed up in al-Tahrir Square, the epicentre of Iraq’s anti-government protests, since early in Oct.
In southern Iraq, security forces reopened many squares and bridges in the provinces of Diwaniyah and Dhi Qar, while in Basra, security forces burned some tents of the protesters, as they reopened their protest areas, according to local media reports.
The advance of the security forces came, hours after supporters of the prominent Shiite cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, began withdrawing from the demonstrations centres in the cities, shortly after a tweet by al-Sadr, who accused some of the protester of being supported from outside Iraq.
“However, from now, I will try not to interfere with them, neither negatively or positively, until they take into account the fate of Iraq,” al-Sadr said in his tweet.
Al-Sadr’s accusation came after some protesters refused to participate in his massive demonstration on Friday, in which he called for a scheduled withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq, through using all peaceful means.– NNN-NINA
