Protester killed as Iraq police struggle to stem unrest
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[January 21, 2020]
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi police
fought running street battles with anti-government demonstrators on
Tuesday, firing tear and rubber bullets to try to disperse
stone-throwing youths pressing for an overhaul of a political system
they see as deeply corrupt.
One protester was killed in Baghdad while another succumbed to a bullet
wound sustained on Monday in Baquba city, medical sources said, adding
at least 50 demonstrators were wounded.
Violent clashes erupted for a third straight day in Baghdad's Tayaran
Square and in other southern cities including Basra and the holy Shi'ite
cities of Kerbala and Najaf, with protesters hurling stones and petrol
bombs at police who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.
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"Our protests is peaceful. We call for the resignation of the government
and an independent prime minister who does not belong to any party,"
said a hooded protester in Baghdad, who declined to give his name.
Anti-government unrest has crippled Iraq since Oct. 1, with protesters
demanding an end to what they say is deeply-rooted corruption and a
ruling elite that has controlled Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in
2003. More than 450 people have been killed.
Iraqi President Barham Salih is expected to appoint a new premier this
week, state media reported, to replace outgoing Adel Abdul Mahdi who was
forced out by the demonstrations.
Salih is choosing between three Iraqi politicians to lead a transitional
government that would ease popular anger, State TV reported, adding the
decision could come as soon as Tuesday.
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An Iraqi demonstrator burns tires to block a road during ongoing
anti-government protests in Najaf, Iraq January 21, 2020. REUTERS/Alaa
al-Marjani
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Tuesday's unrest followed violent gatherings on Monday that killed
six Iraqis, including two police officers, and wounded scores across
the country.
Protests resumed over the weekend after a lull of several weeks as
demonstrators sought to keep up momentum after attention turned to
the threat of a U.S.-Iran conflict following Washington's killing of
Tehran's top general in an air strike inside Iraq.
The killing of Qassem Soleimani, to which Tehran responded with a
ballistic missile attack on two Iraqi military bases, has
highlighted the influence of some foreign powers in Iraq, especially
Iran and the United States.
Three Katyusha rockets fell inside the capital's heavily fortified
Green Zone which houses government buildings and foreign missions,
police sources said. The rockets were launched from Zafaraniyah
district outside Baghdad, the sources said, adding that two landed
near the U.S. embassy.
(Reporting by Iraq staff, writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi, Editing by
William Maclean)
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