Clashes erupted between Iraqi security forces and some protesters as hundreds, rather than an anticipated thousands, took to the streets of Iraq\u2019s Baghdad to mark the anniversary of anti-government demonstrations that took place last year.<\/p>\n
Security forces deployed in force on Sunday to block protesters from bridges leading to the highly-fortified Green Zone, which houses some of the main government offices and foreign diplomatic missions, including the US Embassy, Press TV reported.<\/p>\n
Police used tear gas and water cannons against protesters, who hurled rocks.<\/p>\n
According to reports, some demonstrators threw Molotov cocktails, and others set fire to tires during the protest.<\/p>\n
At least seven people have been injured by tear gas canisters, police sources said, while a military spokesman said in a separate statement that at least 32 members of the security forces were wounded by hand grenades thrown by a group he suggested had hidden among otherwise peaceful demonstrators, without elaborating.<\/p>\n
Similar protests also took place in several southern cities, including Basra, Najaf and Nasiriyah.<\/p>\n
Iraqi Shia leader and cleric, Moqtada al-Sadr, warned on Sunday that foreign-backed rioters were turning the protests into violent confrontations with security forces.<\/p>\n
Protests erupted in Iraq in October last year over unemployment and a lack of basic services, with demonstrators calling for economic reforms and a meaningful fight against corruption in state institutions.<\/p>\n
Reports say some 550 people were killed and 30,000 injured as the anti-government rallies took a violent turn.<\/p>\n
The protests led to the resignation of the former prime minister, Adil Abdul-Mahdi, who was replaced by Mustafa al-Kadhimi in May following months of political deadlock.<\/p>\n
In a televised address on Saturday, Kadhimi vowed to hold early and fair parliamentary elections, a demand of many protesters, and called on security forces not to fire at demonstrators, but also called on protesters to “respect the uniform”.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Clashes erupted between Iraqi security forces and some protesters as hundreds, rather than an anticipated thousands, took to the streets of Iraq\u2019s Baghdad to mark the anniversary of anti-government demonstrations that took place last year. Security forces deployed in force on Sunday to block protesters from bridges leading to the highly-fortified Green Zone, which houses […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3889,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8,1],"tags":[296,1384,1069,474,31,639,178,1383,56,84,27,382,638],"yoast_head":"\n