Baghdad protests continue; Over 110 dead, six thousand injured
While the Iraqi officials are trying to find a way to end the country-wide protests, according to reports by international media, these protests have left at least 110 dead and six thousand injured.
The Iraq army has reported that a state ministry official has been shot and killed. 15 people were killed the night before.
The president of Iraq, Barham Salih, previously had said: “We will punish those responsible for spilling the blood of Iraqis.”
Reuters reporters say they have witnessed snipers shooting at protesters from rooftops.
The protesters say due to the heavy crowds, the streets are blocked, and ambulances cannot reach the victims.
The protesters who demand government change and an end to government corruption have got into altercations with the security forces in the past few days. Bad quality of public services and high unemployment rates, especially among the youth and the university graduates are also among the issues that the protesters have complained about.
Most of the protests and altercations have occurred in Baghdad and the southern parts of Iraq. In the rest of the country, the protests have stopped.
The state media have reported that the heavily secured Green Zone in Baghdad where most government buildings and embassies are located has been reopened after five days.
The protests even impacted the price of oil, Although, according to Reuters, the US sanctions against China and the unrest in Ecuador have also been contributing factors.
The government of Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi announced on Sunday that in order to reduce tensions and meet the demands of the protesters, some reform and welfare projects including distribution of land among the impoverished citizens are being reviewed.