Iran Press/ Middle East: Protesters closed large roads in cities across Iraq on Sunday night, escalating their campaign for political change, as the clock ticked down the final hours to their deadline for the government to meet their demands for reform.
According to Reuters, six Iraqis including two police officers were killed and scores were wounded in Baghdad and other cities on Monday 20 January in the clashes, medical and security sources said, as anti-government unrest resumed after a lull of several weeks.
Protesters threw petrol bombs and stones at police who responded with tear gas and stun grenades, Reuters witnesses said.
Three Katyusha rockets fell inside the capital’s heavily fortified Green Zone which houses government buildings and foreign missions, police sources told Reuters. The rockets were launched from al Zafaraniyah district outside Baghdad, the sources said, adding that two rockets landed near the U.S. embassy.
In the Iraqi oil city of Basra, two policemen were struck and killed by a civilian car during a protest, security sources said. The driver was trying to avoid the scene of clashes between protesters and security forces when he drove into the two officers, they said.
Elsewhere in southern Iraq, hundreds of protesters burned tires and blocked main roads in several cities, including Nassiriya, Karbala and Amara.
Iraqi protests erupted again after a while.
Baghdad police said its forces had reopened all roads that were closed by “violent gatherings”. It said 14 officers were wounded near Tahrir square, including some with head wounds and broken bones.
According to Reuters, traffic was disrupted on a highway linking Baghdad to southern cities. Production in southern oilfields was unaffected by the unrest, oil officials said.
Demonstrators a week ago gave the government until Monday 20 January to act on their demands, which include the holding of a snap poll under a new electoral law, the appointment of an independent prime minister and the prosecution of officials suspected of corruption.
The UN envoy to Iraq urged Iraqi political elites to resume pushing for reforms and for protests to remain peaceful.
"Any steps taken so far to address the people's concerns will remain hollow if they are not completed," said Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert in a statement issued by the UN.
Mass protests have gripped Iraq since October 1, with mostly young protesters demanding economic reforms.
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