14 more killed in Iraq
Iraq’s security forces fired live ammunition early yesterday to disperse an anti-government demonstration in the southern holy city of Karbala, killing at least 14 protesters and wounding hundreds of others, medical sources said.
But Karbala’s police chief denied in a statement that any protesters had been killed and said only one person died in an unrelated criminal incident, calling footage of security forces shooting at protesters on social media fabricated and designed to “incite the street”.
Security officials said the violence happened in Karbala’s Education Square, about two kilometres (1.2 miles) from the Imam Hussain Shrine, where demonstrators set up tents for their sit-in.
A witness said hundreds of protesters were in the encampment when live rounds were fired towards them from a passing car.
Then masked gunmen in black plainclothes arrived and started shooting at the demonstrators, the witness said, speaking on condition of anonymity, fearing for his safety. Tents caught fire, igniting a blaze, he added.
Karbala’s Governor Nassif al-Khattabi denied reports about Iraqi protester deaths. “Security forces have exercised utmost restraint,” he said.
The governor accused protesters of “carrying weapons and an internationally prohibited bomb”, without elaborating, reported Al Jazeera online.
Karbala Police Chief Ahmed Zweini accused protesters of hurling petrol-bombs at security forces.
Meanwhile, populist Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr joined thousands of anti-government demonstrators yesterday in the holy city of Najaf, an AFP correspondent said.
Sadr, who has backed the protests, was spotted shortly after airport sources told AFP the militiaman-turned-leader had landed in his native Najaf from Iran.
Like the curfews, reform proposals by Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi have done little to stamp out the rallies, which are now demanding a total government overhaul.
At least 240 people have died and 8,000 left wounded since demonstrations broke out on October 1 over unemployment and corruption, before evolving into calls for government change.
In Iraq’s southern cities of Hilla, Diwaniyah, Kut and Nasiriyah, most government offices remained closed yesterday for lack of staff.
Students gathered in those cities for their third day of demonstrations, ignoring orders by the higher education minister to return to class.
Parliament was set to meet again yesterday to discuss reforms, a day after it voted to dissolve provincial councils and summon Mahdi for questioning.
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