In recent days, protesters have defied an existing curfew in Iraq. You are protesting against what you consider to be a problem with growing corruption. The AP News Agency reports that at least 19 people have been killed in the protests, including a police officer.

Now President Mohammed al-Halbusi has invited representatives of the protest movement to Parliament to hear their demands in an attempt to reach a peaceful solution. It states Iraqi state media reports the AP.

Government-critical protesters in Baghdad on Wednesday. Photo: Hadi Mizban / AP / TT

Protests against corruption and poor living conditions

In addition to corruption, a quarter of the young people in the country are unemployed and living conditions are bad, which is also something that annoys the protesters.

- We want jobs and better community service. We have been asking for this for several years but the government has not responded, says 27-year-old protester Abdallah Walid, according to TT.

Sharp shots and throttled internet

Iraqi authorities have tried in many ways to prevent people from gathering on the streets. In addition to curfew in several cities, access to the internet has been largely restricted.

The curfew in Baghdad affects six million people and when residents of the city on Wednesday defied the ban, fired off military sharp shots to stop the protests. According to TT, the news agency AFP's photographer says. There are also reports that military, called in to support the police operation, have discharged tear gas.