City
Epaper

Anti-govt protests escalate in Iraq

By IANS | Published: January 20, 2020 8:37 AM

Hundreds of angry Iraqi youths intensified their anti-government protests due to the slow pace of comprehensive reform in the political process demanded by the demonstrators.

Open in App

On Sunday, hundreds of demonstrators rallied in Tayran and Wathba near Baghdad's al-Tahrir Square, the epicentre of Iraq's anti-government protests, and set fire to dozens of tires to block the main roads leading to the rally sites, an Interior Ministry official told Xinhua news agency.

Sporadic clashes occurred with riot police during the day when dozens of demonstrators burned tires to cut off a highway named Mohammed al-Qassim, that links the downtown Baghdad to several neighbourhoods in the east of the capital, the official said.

Riot police fired tear gas canisters and bullets in the air to disperse the protesters, leaving a protester killed and some 30 others injured and suffocated, according to the official.

In southern Baghdad, demonstrations flared in the provinces of Babil, Najaf, Karbala, Dhi Qar, Diwaniyah, Wasit, Maysan and Basra, as protesters blocked the main roads and closed many of the government institutions, according to local media reports.

On January 13, demonstrators in Nasriyah, the capital of Dhi Qar province, and other Iraqi cities announced a period of one week for the political blocs to form a new government to replace the government of caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, otherwise the protesters would block main roads across Iraq and close the government institutions.

Mass anti-government demonstrations have continued in Baghdad and other cities in central and southern Iraq since last October, demanding comprehensive reform, fight against corruption, better public services and more job opportunities.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: BaghdadIraqInterior MinistryXinhua
Open in App

Related Stories

InternationalUs Condemns Iraq’s Law to Criminalise Same-Sex Marriage, Says ‘Will Weaken Country’s Ability to Diversify Its Economy’

InternationalUnited States: Convoy forces smuggle stolen Syrian resources into Iraq

InternationalIraqi Fighters Fire Rockets at US Base in Syria

InternationalIraq: Two Iraqi Military Bases Bombed by Unknown Aircraft Near Baghdad; Watch Video

InternationalUS Drone Strike Kills Iran-Linked Armed Group Commander in Baghdad - Video

International Realted Stories

InternationalUS talks to Israel, says Rafah operation is of limited scope

InternationalWould be 'fortunate' if party develop consensus with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: JUI-F Chief

InternationalIsraeli hostage dies in Gaza: Hamas

InternationalMay 9 perpetrators to be punished as per Constitution, says Pak Defence Minister Khawaja Asif

InternationalTaliban agrees to accept demands of protesters amid rising unrest in Badakhshan