Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses. Share the link of this article with your facebook friends

 

16 Iraqis Killed by Security Forces After Burning Down the Iranian Consulate in Najaf

November 28, 2019

Editor's Note:

Iraqis, both Sunnis and Shi'is, are fed-up with the US-installed corrupt regime, they are in full revolt against it, demanding it to be thrown out (regime change by people).

Iraqi protesters in Najaf, southern Iraq, November 28, 2019	Iraqi proteste torching the Iranian Consulate on fire, in Najaf 27, 2019

 

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The following are news stories from the independent Iraqi English news site, (https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en):

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Iraqi gov't imposes curfew in Najaf

The Baghdad Post, Thursday, 28 November 2019 0

Iraqi security forces shot dead (16) protesters in the southern city of Nassiriya on Thursday, medical sources said, and authorities imposed a curfew in Najaf after demonstrators burned the Iranian consulate.

Authorities set up joint military-civilian “crisis cells” to try to stem unrest.

The torching of the consulate in Najaf, the southern holy city, escalated violence in Iraq after weeks of mass demonstrations that aim to bring down a government seen as corrupt and backed by Tehran.

The inability of Iraq’s government and political class to deal with the unrest and answer protesters’ demands has fuelled public anger.

Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has promised electoral and anti-corruption reform but barely begun delivering while security forces have shot dead hundreds of mostly peaceful demonstrators in the streets of Baghdad and southern cities.

The protests, which began in Baghdad on Oct. 1 and have spread through southern cities, are the most complex challenge facing the Shi’ite-dominated ruling class that has controlled state institutions and patronage networks since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled long-time Sunni ruler Saddam Hussein.
Young, mostly Shi’ite protesters say politicians are corrupt, beholden to foreign powers - especially Iran - and they blame them for a failure to recover from years of conflict despite relative calm since the defeat of Islamic State in 2017.

Security forces opened fire on protesters who had gathered on a bridge in Nassiriya before dawn, medical sources said. 14 were killed and dozens were wounded, they said.

A curfew was imposed in Najaf after protesters stormed and set fire to the Iranian consulate late on Wednesday. Businesses and government offices remained closed in the city, state media reported.
It was the strongest expression yet of the anti-Iranian sentiment of Iraqi demonstrators.

“The burning of the consulate last night was a brave act and a reaction from the Iraqi people - we don’t want the Iranians,” said Ali, a protester in Najaf.

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/44834/Iraqi-gov-t-imposes-curfew-in-Najaf

Iraqi gov’t slams protesters’ attack on Iranian consulate

The Iraqi government on Thursday condemned the attack on Iranian consulate in Najaf, saying it was an attempt to harm Baghdad-Tehran relations.

Overnight Wednesday, tens of angry protesters stormed Iran’s consulate in Najaf, south of Iraq, and set fire to the building.

Iraqi foreign ministry called the perpetrators “outsiders” and said they were harming Iraq’s interests with their unpatriotic move.

It also called on protesters to reject the people disguising among them to lead a specific political agenda and harm the legitimate plea of the protesters.

A police official told Associated Press that at least one protester was killed and 35 were wounded when security forces fired live ammunition to prevent the protesters from entering the diplomatic facility.
Iranian consulate diplomats and staff were previously evacuated.

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/44832/Iraqi-gov-t-slams-protesters-attack-on-Iranian-consulate

 Iraq crackdown kills 13 protesters after Iran mission torched

Thursday، 28 November 2019 12:38 PM

Iraqi security forces cracked down on anti-government protesters in the strife-torn south Thursday, leaving 13 people dead in a bloody escalation hours after the torching of an Iranian consulate.

Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, as commander in chief of the armed forces, dispatched military chiefs to several restive provinces to "restore order" there, the military said in a statement.

Iraq's capital and its south have been torn by the worst street unrest since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein, as a youth-dominated protest movement has vented their fury at their government and its backers in neighbouring Iran.

Late Wednesday protesters burnt down the Iranian consulate in the city of Najaf, yelling "Victory to Iraq!" and "Iran out!", in an attack condemned by Tehran which voiced its "disgust".

Iraq's death toll in the street clashes since early October has risen above 360 with over 15,000 wounded according to an AFP tally, as authorities are not releasing updated or precise figures.

Protesters burning tyres and throwing rocks and petrol bombs have clashed with security forces unleashing tear gas, rubber coated bullets and live rounds.

The latest clashes erupted on Thursday in the protest hotspot of Nasiriyah, where security forces cleared protesters off two main bridges they had been occupying for days.

At least 13 protesters were shot dead and 100 wounded with several in critical condition, medical and security sources said.

https://www.thebaghdadpost.com/en/Story/44830/Iraq-crackdown-kills-13-protesters-after-Iran-mission-torched

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