5 killed in renewed demonstrations in Baghdad despite orders not to shoot

Five demonstrators were killed and 15 others wounded in renewed clashes this evening between protesters and police in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, according to police and medical sources.

The clashes took place in Sadr City, east of Baghdad. The new deaths add to the 104 others killed - including members of the security forces - in the past five days, along with more than 6,100 injured.

The relative calm prevailed in Baghdad today before darkness, while renewed protests in southern areas of the country.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi called on the demonstrators to refrain from taking to the streets of Baghdad and the provinces.

Abdul Mahdi said he had given strict orders not to use live bullets against demonstrators except in limited cases of self-defense.

Al-Jazeera correspondent in Baghdad, Samer Yusuf, said earlier that calm prevailed in Baghdad areas after it closed in the past two days Tahrir Square (the city center) in addition to some areas surrounding the square.

He added that life in Baghdad has returned to normal by a large percentage, the movement of cars and pedestrian traffic, and many shops opened their doors throughout the capital.

He pointed out that some roads leading to the Green Zone, which includes government headquarters and state institutions and many embassies, including the US embassy, ​​are still under tight security measures, and some roads leading to it are closed.

As for the other provinces, the correspondent explained that the news received to the island reported renewed protests in the provinces of Diwaniya and Dhi Qar (southern country), where hundreds of protesters in the two provinces.

He added that the authorities faced demonstrations in Dhi Qar by arresting a number of protesters, while in Diwaniya, the protests were met with tear gas and rubber bullets in the air in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators.

Government decisions
In his cabinet meeting today, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said that the government is committed to providing practical programs to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people, and to try those accused of corruption and manipulation of public money.

The speaker of the Iraqi parliament Mohammed Halbousi met yesterday a delegation representing the demonstrators in the House of Representatives building in the Green Zone in central Baghdad.

At the end of the meeting, Halbousi announced measures to create new jobs and encourage investments.

The prime minister's 17-point plan came as a result of an emergency cabinet meeting overnight, and came days after vague promises of reform were made.

The plan includes increasing subsidized housing for the poor and salaries for the unemployed, as well as training programs and initiatives that give small loans to unemployed youth.

Families of those killed during demonstrations in the past few days will also receive payment and care, usually given to families of members of the security forces who die in the war.

Procedures
In a related context, the Baghdad Provincial Council decided today to accept the resignation of the Governor of Baghdad Falah Algerian from his post, apparently from the secretions of recent protests.

The head of the Baghdad Provincial Council Riyad al-Addadh that "the Baghdad Provincial Council voted to accept the resignation of the governor Falah Algerian and opened the door to run for governor for five days."

In a later development, a joint press conference was held this evening for the spokespersons of the Ministries of Defense, Interior, Health and Joint Operations.

During the conference, it was stressed that those who were behind the shooting were being sought during the recent demonstrations. Protesters and security agents were killed.

The Interior Ministry also confirmed at the conference the appointment of more than 46,000 security personnel, who will be operational in early December.