Tensions return to the protests’ scene in Iraq

Shafaq News / Tensions returned to the protests’ scene in a number of Iraqi cities, in opposition to the 4 days -Mustafa al-Kadhimi's government .

The first spark was launched from Wasit governorate, where the demonstrators announced in a video circulated by social networking sites the start of the zero hour and the fall of the local government in the governorate represented by the governor and his deputies.

The demonstrators of Wasit also announced dismissing each district mayor and district managers, and assigning the governorate administration to the district.

In Dhi Qar Governorate, Shafaq News told a security source, "A number of demonstrators gathered in Al-Bahow intersection in the center of Nasiriyah, as clashes with the security forces and firing tear gas.

As for Al-Muthanna, another source indicated that "the demonstrators gathered in (Al-Ghadeer) square in the city center, and cut a number of main streets by burning tires."

In the capital Baghdad, a security source pointed out that "there are clashes between protesters and riot police on Jumhoria Bridge as well as firing tear gas."

The cities of southern Iraq on witnessed on Saturday night, angry protests in a new escalation practiced by October demonstrators against the new government.

Since October 1, Baghdad and the predominantly Shiite cities of the south have been witnessing demonstrations calling for early elections and fighting corruption, which prompted former Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to resign.

About 550 people were killed in violence linked to the protest movement, according to the government human rights commission, the vast majority of them demonstrators.