Iraq .. Relative calm as thousands rallied in Baghdad and southern provinces

Protests in Iraq entered its 17th day as thousands gathered in Baghdad and southern provinces. The capital's Tahrir Square is relatively calm after four people were killed on Saturday, with renewed government promises to investigate.

Witnesses in Baghdad said that Tahrir Square is relatively calm after clashes between demonstrators and security forces during an attempt to evacuate the Khalani Square near Tahrir Square, which resulted in the killing of four demonstrators and wounding about 100 others.

Security forces on Sunday imposed a security cordon around Khalani Square to prevent demonstrators from reaching Tahrir Square.

The Anatolia news agency quoted medical sources that seven were killed yesterday in Baghdad, and another died in the province of Basra (south) from an injury suffered a few days ago during a sit-in in front of the port of Umm Qasr.

Security forces regained control of three major bridges in Baghdad on Friday, except for a bridge linking the eastern part of the capital, which includes residential and commercial neighborhoods, to the government headquarters across the Tigris River.

Southern Governorates
Sources in the southern province of Najaf said that the demonstrators closed today the Sadr Hospital bridge linking the district of Kufa and the city center, adding that most schools received their students after two weeks of the strike announced by the Iraqi Teachers Union.

Witnesses said in Karbala province south of Baghdad that last night witnessed clashes between security forces and demonstrators as they tried to reach the building of the province fortified with checkpoints, confirming cases of suffocation among the demonstrators because of tear gas.

On the other hand, promised Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi in a speech on Saturday to investigate the deaths of demonstrators, and the release of detainees, except those held for criminal offenses.

"Public pressure is one of the most important factors to push the political forces to accept the required reforms," ​​Mahdi said in a statement, stressing that he would make full or partial ministerial changes to break the quota system and called for a return to normalcy after weeks of unrest.

The Iraqi authorities must stop the use of excessive and unlawful force against demonstrators, Amnesty International said, adding that the Iraqi authorities must protect the right of the people to life, assembly and expression, and bring those responsible for violence to justice.

The organization counted the killing of 264 demonstrators across Iraq more than a month ago, noting that all promises of government reform or investigation have no meaning as security forces continue to kill demonstrators.