Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Renewed Baghdad Protests Leave 1 Dead, 6 Wounded

Renewed Baghdad Protests Leave  1 Dead, 6 Wounded

BAGHDAD — Security forces fired in the air and used tear gas Wednesday to disperse groups of demonstrators in Baghdad, killing one and wounding six in renewed protests after violent confrontations between protesters and police a day earlier, officials said.
Heavily armed security forces and dozens of riot policemen blocked all streets leading to a major central square in the Iraqi capital in an attempt to prevent bigger protests, with armored personnel carriers and SUVs standing guard at intersections.
At least two anti-government protesters were killed and more than 200 were wounded after security forces used live ammunition and tear gas on protesters Tuesday who were calling for an end to corruption, improved basic services and more jobs. The confrontations were some of the worst in more than a year and signaled the war-weary country could be facing a new round of political instability.
A few dozen protesters tried to reach Tahrir Square to resume the protests Wednesday but were faced with scores of riot police in full gear who formed a human barrier and soldiers who blocked roads leading to the square from several directions, sometimes with barbed wire. Security forces fired tear gas and live fire in the air to disperse the protesters, chasing them away. One person was killed and six wounded, according to security and medical officials. A Health Ministry official said the person killed was a 56-year-old man and said forensics were identifying the cause of death. The officials all spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.