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On 8 December 2019, Iraqi demonstrators mourn in front of a makeshift memorial wall in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, in memory of protesters killed during anti-government protests. SABAH ARAR / AFP

In Iraq, the pressure is increasing on the demonstrators. Kidnappings, targeted killings and attacks are on the increase, for the time being with impunity.

With our correspondent in Baghdad, Lucile Wassermann

In Tahrir Square in Baghdad, protesters are weeping in front of the photos of two young Iraqis. On one of them, Zaid Mohammed, a young photographer abducted in front of his home last week by a group of armed men. Abdullah, in his twenties, is one of his best friends. He is still in shock. " Zaid is a good guy. I've known him for five or six years. Many people followed him [on social networks], because he photographed everything here. That's why they took it. "

Next to the photo of Zaid, there is that of Ahmed Al Muhanna, photographer too. He died on Friday, December 6, killed in an attack by masked men on their pickups. For Ahmed, one of his friends gathered here, the militias are behind these attacks and kidnappings . " We want to live! We want to live normally, like all the other countries in the world. We have never seen anything beautiful in this country. When militias control everything, it's not a good life. "

Investigations are underway, says government

France, Britain and Germany called on the Iraqi state to take the necessary measures to prevent any armed group from operating on the territory, also demanding that the coalition of paramilitary groups close to Iran , called " Mobilization Populaire ", remains far from the protesters.

" Unacceptable interference ", for the Baghdad government, which ensures that investigations are underway to identify those responsible.

►Also read: Iraq: facing silence and repression, the street calls for international help