World News – CA – Iraqi forces, protesters clash in Baghdad, wounded on both sides

By Thaier Al-Sudani and Haider Kadhim BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi security forces clashed in Baghdad with anti-government protesters on Sunday with at least 39 people, mostly police, injured by projectiles thrown from either side , said security officials Police sources said tear gas canisters fired by security forces injured at least seven people.A separate statement from a military spokesperson said at least 32 members of the security forces were injured by hand grenades. hand thrown by a group he said had been hiding among otherwise peaceful protesters, without giving further details Politicians have expressed concern over the possibility of peaceful protests being hijacked by rioters, which could trigger a spiral of violence such as seen last year New anti-government rallies converged on Sunday to mark a year since mass unrest over corruption and widespread deprivation in oil-rich Iraq More than 500 people have been killed in unrest Threats, assassinations and kidnappings activists, along with fatigue and lockdown restrictions to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, took steam from months of protests earlier this year Protesters number in the hundreds rather than the thousands on Sunday Earlier in the year day, police fired water cannons and tear gas at protesters to prevent them from crossing barricades on a bridge leading to government buildings "We will not stop protesting to claim our stolen rights We are the victims of corrupt governments," said Najim Abdullah, a protester standing near the Jumhuriya Bridge in the capital. Security forces had deployed in force to control the protests that began in the morning and to prevent protesters from crossing the Jumhuriya Bridge, which leads to the walled green area which houses government buildings and foreign missions. Sunday's protests were more subdued than protests last year where thousands gathered in Baghdad and the south, clashing with security forces and militiamen in clashes that maimed and killed for the Most young unemployed protesters Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who took office in May after his predecessor was ousted by the unrest last year, introduced himself as a leader who supports the protesters In a televised speech on Saturday, he s 'pledged to hold early and fair elections, a demand from many pro-democracy activists, and said security forces would not harm any peaceful protesters this time around Security forces and unidentified gunmen waged a fierce crackdown on anti-government unrest that erupted in October 2019, killing hundreds of mostly unarmed protesters with live ammunition and tear gas Protesters accuse the entrenched ruling elite, especially Iran-backed parties and militias, of fueling an endemic graft that has kept large swathes of the country in ruins even in times of relative peace (Additional reporting by Mohammed Atie in Basra; Writing by Ahmed Rasheed and John Davison in Baghdad; Editing by Mark Heinrich)

CAMEROON MAGAZINE - GM26/10/20202 Mins read53 Views