Iraq crackdown kills 30 after Iran mission torched

Southern Iraq was in bloody upheaval yesterday after a government crackdown killed 30 protesters and thousands defied a curfew to join funeral marches, following the dramatic torching of an Iranian consulate.

Iraq'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.

Late Wednesday, demonstrators outraged at Tehran's political influence in Iraq burned down the Iranian consulate in the shrine city of Najaf, 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. But by the

afternoon, after the protesters' deaths, the premier had already sacked one commander, General Jamil Shummary.

Shummary had been dispatched to the premier's birthplace of Nasiriyah, a southern city that has been a protest hotspot for weeks.

The ensuing crackdown was particularly bloody, with at least 25 protesters killed and more than 200 wounded as security forces cleared sit-ins with live fire, medics and security sources said.

The provincial governor in Nasiriyah, Adel al-Dakhili, blamed the crackdown on Shummary, who was the military commander in the southern port city of Basra when demonstrations there were brutally suppressed in 2018.

Dakhili demanded the premier sack him, and hours later, Abdel Mahdi ordered Shummary removed from his post.

The latest violence brought the death toll since early October to over 380, with more than 15,000 wounded according to an AFP tally. Authorities are not releasing updated or precise figures.

The province of Dhi Qar announced three days of mourning for the dead in provincial capital Nasiriyah, where thousands took to the streets in funeral processions, defying a curfew announced there earlier in the day.

"We're staying until the regime falls and our demand are met!" they chanted.

Iraq crackdown kills 30 after Iran mission torched

Southern Iraq was in bloody upheaval yesterday after a government crackdown killed 30 protesters and thousands defied a curfew to join funeral marches, following the dramatic torching of an Iranian consulate. Iraqs 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. Late Wednesday, demonstrators outraged at Tehrans political influence in Iraq burned down the Iranian consulate in the shrine city of Najaf, 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. But by the afternoon, after the protesters deaths, the premier had already sacked one commander, General Jamil Shummary. Shummary had been dispatched to the premiers birthplace of Nasiriyah, a southern city that has been a protest hotspot for weeks. The ensuing crackdown was particularly bloody, with at least 25 protesters killed and more than 200 wounded as security forces cleared sit-ins with live fire, medics and security sources said. The provincial governor in Nasiriyah, Adel al-Dakhili, blamed the crackdown on Shummary, who was the military commander in the southern port city of Basra when demonstrations there were brutally suppressed in 2018. Dakhili demanded the premier sack him, and hours later, Abdel Mahdi ordered Shummary removed from his post. The latest violence brought the death toll since early October to over 380, with more than 15,000 wounded according to an AFP tally. Authorities are not releasing updated or precise figures. The province of Dhi Qar announced three days of mourning for the dead in provincial capital Nasiriyah, where thousands took to the streets in funeral processions, defying a curfew announced there earlier in the day. Were staying until the regime falls and our demand are met! they chanted.