Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi vowed on Saturday to tackle what he called "deviation and corruption" in the country. In Karbala, southern Iraq, hundreds of Iraqi pilgrims chanted against corruption while commemorating the 40th anniversary of Imam Hussein bin Ali.

In a statement to his office, Abdul-Mahdi said they were committed to eliminating inequality and achieving social justice, and that reform had become a requirement agreed upon by all Iraqis.

Abdul-Mahdi also pledged to hold al-Maqsur accountable in recent demonstrations in Iraq, regardless of his location, referring to those who caused dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries during the demonstrations.

In the statement, he congratulated the Shiites celebrating the 40th anniversary of Hussein, saying, "I salute the millions of believers, both Iraqis and non-Iraqis, who are heading to the holy province of Karbala to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Imam Hussein.

Iraqis raise slogans against corruption as they mark the 40th anniversary of Hussein (Reuters)


Cheers in Karbala
During the fortieth visit today, thousands of Iraqis chanted and raised anti-corruption slogans in Karbala, apparently in response to the call of the leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada al-Sadr to continue a protest movement.

"No, no to corruption," he said. "Yes, yes, for reform." They also shouted, "Baghdad is free, free, corrupt.

Sadr had called a few days ago to turn the anniversary of the fortieth Hussein into a demonstration against the United States, Israel and corrupt.

In a tweet on Twitter titled "Nida", Sadr said last Tuesday, "Iraqis walking to the kiss of the free revolutionaries marched through the crowds of two million phone calls: No both America, no Israel, no no corrupt."

Sadr, who backs the Sairon bloc, which topped the 2018 parliamentary elections with 54 seats out of 329, called two weeks ago for the resignation of the government and "early elections under UN supervision."

Since October 1, Iraq has witnessed spontaneous demonstrations driven by social demands, but with live bullets. The bloody protests left 110 people dead and 6,000 injured.