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For almost two months, Iraqi protesters have been demanding the departure of their leaders, who are judged incompetent and corrupt. The only response provided by the authorities so far is the violent crackdown that has killed over 350 people since early October.
Anger is expressed especially in the south of the country. Kerbala, Najaf, Basra, different cities, but the same image that comes again this Wednesday morning: the imposing columns of black smoke.
The clashes were violent. The protesters are exasperated. Last resort to make their voice heard: paralyze the country. Roads are cut, tires burnt, and pickets at the entrance of administrations to prevent officials from reaching their offices, as in Diwaniya for example.
The angry South
Almost everywhere else in these southern cities, schools are also closed. The Iraqis are calling for a complete overhaul of their political system and the total renewal of their ruling class considered corrupt. These southern regions are extremely rich in oil. And yet their population lives in misery. Main problem of young Iraqis: unemployment.
Some do not hesitate to travel hundreds of kilometers to reach Baghdad, the heart of the protest . Neighborhoods in the capital have been transformed into battlefields. Law enforcement often fires live ammunition.