Iraqi government faces calls to resign as protests death toll hits 65

At least 65 have died after security forces opened fire on demonstrators as anti-corruption protests in Iraq continued for a fourth day. The brutal clampdown on protests in the country on Friday triggered calls for the government to resign as footage of snipers targeting protesters surfaced on social media in spite of widespread internet blackouts. BBC Arabic reported that the Iraqi Army does not know the identity of the snipers. Militias have sprouted in Iraq following the US invasion and the removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003. In response to the violence, influential Iraqi cleric Muqtada Al Sadr called on the government to resign and early elections be held in a statement issued on Friday night, saying that shedding the blood of “Iraqis cannot be ignored.” Adding to the condemnation of the government’s actions, former Iraqi prime minister Haider Al Abadi also called for the government’s resignation. Earlier in the day, Mr Al Sadr’s Sairoon political bloc in parliament said it was suspending participation in parliamentary activities until the government introduces a program that serves Iraqi aspirations. Mr Al Sadr's electoral list won the largest single bloc of seats in parliament elections last year. The bloc has 54 seats in the 329-member parliament. The move comes after Iraq's top Shiite authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, blamed politicians for failing to enact reforms and eradicate corruption. The death toll in the protests that have wracked the country for four days rose after Iraqi security forces opened fired on dozens of protesters gathering in Baghdad. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi told those rallying against corruption, unemployment and poor public services to go home. The Iraqi premier said the "legitimate demands" of the demonstrators had been heard by the country's elite. Security forces then fired directly at the group of protesters. In a series of blows to the government, senior clerics and the UN appeared to back the protesters' right to mobilise. The UN called on Iraq on Friday to rapidly and transparently investigate force used by anti-riot police in clashes with protesters that have left dozens dead. He said there is "no magic solution" to Iraq's problems but pledged to work on laws granting poor families a basic income, provide alternative housing to violators and fight corruption. "The security measures we are taking, including temporary curfew, are difficult choices. But like bitter medicine, they are inevitable," he said. "We have to return life to normal in all provinces and respect the law." But Iraq's top Shiite cleric on Friday criticised the government, a significant development that offered backing to the protesters. Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani said the country's leaders had failed to fulfil their promises to the people. He called on political leaders to take "practical and clear steps" towards combating corruption and on the government to "carry out its duty" to diminish people's suffering. He reiterated his suggestion for a committee of technocrats tasked with making recommendations on fighting corruption, as a way out of the current crisis. Mr Al Sistani's message was delivered on Friday by his representative Ahmed Al Safi in the Shiite holy city of Karbala. Mr Abdul Mahdi said the turmoil could lead to "the destruction of the state, the entire state", but refrained from directly responding to the protesters' demands. Instead he defended his government's record over its first year in office and pledged a monthly stipend for families in need, while asking for time to implement a reform agenda promised last year. The United Nations special representative for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, welcomed his speech and emphasis on unity and dialogue. "The interests of the country must be prioritised above all else. Its people and its forces must join hands to defend hard-won victories. Dialogue must pave the way to understanding, reconciliation and progress," she said in a statement. "The longstanding demands are legitimate, and immediate, tangible results are of great importance to revive public trust. At the same time, one cannot expect quick fixes or miracles in dealing with the legacy of the past and the many challenges of the present." Other leaders have been more supportive of the protesters, with president Barham Saleh urging the security forces to respect their right to peacefully demonstrate. Authorities have also cut internet access in much of Iraq since late Wednesday, in a desperate move to curb the rallies. Doctors have suggested on social media that the death toll could be much higher, masked by the internet and media blackout in the country. Three Gulf Arab nations have advised their citizens to avoid travelling to Iraq and those who are there to leave the country immediately. Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain advised their citizens to avoid travelling to Iraq and those who are there to leave the country immediately. The Kuwaiti news agency Kuna cited a Foreign Ministry official as urging Kuwaiti nationals to avoid travelling to Iraq due to the demonstrations, and for those already there to leave as soon as possible, and to avoid areas where protests are held. Bahrain's Foreign Ministry also called on its country's citizens not to travel to Iraq and urged those already in Iraq to "leave immediately."

Iraqi government faces calls to resign as protests death toll hits 65

Influential Iraqi politicians have responded to the government’s violent response to continued anti-corruption protests