Iraq protests .. Death toll rises and government declares high state of alert
Iraq protests .. Death toll rises and government declares high state of alert
3/10/2019
BAGHDAD (Reuters) – Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi announced a complete curfew in Baghdad from Thursday morning until further notice with some exceptions to government services, after two days of protests that killed 12 people and wounded more than 200.
For its part, ordered the Ministry of Defense to be on high alert in government facilities and diplomatic missions “to maintain the sovereignty of the state and government facilities and vital objectives.”
The National Security Council stressed the use of all government efforts to meet the legitimate requirements of the demonstrators, and stressed during an emergency session on the freedom of demonstration and expression.
At the same time, the Council condemned the acts of sabotage that accompanied the protests, stressing that appropriate measures were taken to protect citizens and public and private property and to determine the responsibility of the security forces.
The death toll
of Iraqi security sources said that a curfew was imposed in the cities of Nasiriyah, Amara, Babil province and Najaf, at a time when the death toll of the demonstrations rose two days ago to 12 people, according to Anatolia.
The agency quoted a source – who asked not to be named – in the Hussein Teaching Hospital in the city of Nasiriyah of Dhi Qar, that the hospital received six deaths of demonstrators and 97 wounded, in addition to the death of a policeman and wounding 15 security personnel.
She said the death toll had risen to 12, with five killed Tuesday, four in Baghdad and one in Dhi Qar.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera correspondent said security forces closed all Green Zone outlets in central Baghdad after clashes erupted between demonstrators and members of the security forces in Tahrir Square in Baghdad.
Demonstrators’
Demonstrations Thousands of Iraqis demonstrated in Baghdad, Dhi Qar and other provinces, demanding services, improving living conditions, providing job opportunities, and eliminating unemployment and financial and administrative corruption in state institutions.
Security forces and riot police used live bullets, hot water cannons and tear gas to prevent protesters from reaching the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, the federal government building, and other locations in many provinces.
Iraqi sources said that the demonstrators burned tires near the entrance to Baghdad airport and tried to break into it, and clashed with security forces, and in some parts burned government and party buildings.
On Tuesday, Iraqi President Barham Salih called on the demonstrators to meet the demands of reform and job creation.
For its part, the Presidency of the House of Representatives Wednesday to open an investigation into the events that accompanied the demonstrations, and said in a statement that it called on the parliamentary security, defense and human rights committees to open an investigation into the events that accompanied the demonstrations.
Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies
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