Fresh protest, gunfire in Baghdad

Dozens of anti-government protesters took to the streets near Iraq's oil ministry yesterday, an AFP photographer said, as gunfire broke out in central Baghdad.

Protests over chronic unemployment and poor public services that erupted in the capital and southern Iraq on Tuesday have escalated into a broader movement demanding an end to official corruption and a change of government.

At least 93 people have been killed and nearly 4,000 wounded in clashes with security forces, parliament's human rights commission said.

Earlier report said, a curfew was lifted in Baghdad on Saturday following days of protests which have left nearly 100 dead, but tensions remained after firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr demanded the government quit.

The largely spontaneous protests over chronic unemployment and poor public services that erupted in the capital on Tuesday have escalated into a broader movement demanding an end to official corruption and a change of government.

At least 93 people have been killed and nearly 4,000 wounded, as protests spread to cities across the south, the parliamentary human rights commission said.

Sadr threw his weight behind the demonstrations on Friday with a call for the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi.

His movement has the power and organisation to bring large numbers of supporters onto the streets, but at the risk of alienating many of those who have taken to the streets in recent days to express their rejection of all of Iraq's feuding political factions. Speaker Mohammad al-Halbusi was due to convene a session of parliament session later Saturday to discuss job creation and social welfare schemes, after he too extended a hand to the protesters, saying: "Your voice is being heard."

 

Fresh protest, gunfire in Baghdad

Dozens of anti-government protesters took to the streets near Iraqs oil ministry yesterday, an AFP photographer said, as gunfire broke out in central Baghdad. Protests over chronic unemployment and poor public services that erupted in the capital and southern Iraq on Tuesday have escalated into a broader movement demanding an end to official corruption and a change of government. At least 93 people have been killed and nearly 4,000 wounded in clashes with security forces, parliaments human rights commission said. Earlier report said, a curfew was lifted in Baghdad on Saturday following days of protests which have left nearly 100 dead, but tensions remained after firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr demanded the government quit. The largely spontaneous protests over chronic unemployment and poor public services that erupted in the capital on Tuesday have escalated into a broader movement demanding an end to official corruption and a change of government. At least 93 people have been killed and nearly 4,000 wounded, as protests spread to cities across the south, the parliamentary human rights commission said. Sadr threw his weight behind the demonstrations on Friday with a call for the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi. His movement has the power and organisation to bring large numbers of supporters onto the streets, but at the risk of alienating many of those who have taken to the streets in recent days to express their rejection of all of Iraqs feuding political factions. Speaker Mohammad al-Halbusi was due to convene a session of parliament session later Saturday to discuss job creation and social welfare schemes, after he too extended a hand to the protesters, saying: Your voice is being heard.