Called for a reshuffle and reforms .. Iraqi President condemns the attack on demonstrators

Iraqi President Barham Saleh on Monday condemned the attack on demonstrators and the media, urging security forces to uphold the rights of all Iraqis, stressing that there were no orders from high authorities to shoot at demonstrators.

In a televised speech, he also called for a cabinet reshuffle and urged parliament to introduce reforms, including the area of ​​elections, to meet protesters' demands. Salih said compensation should be awarded to those affected by the violence this week.

On the other hand, accused the Iraqi national security adviser and the head of the Popular Mobilization Commission, Faleh Fayyad, whom he described as conspirators, of trying to sow discord in Iraq and overthrow the regime.

The comments came after reports of the death toll in the clashes yesterday east of Baghdad to 15, and denied a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense denied that the regular forces behind the killings.

The death toll after seven days of unrest has exceeded 100, with more than 6,000 injured.

Earlier, the war media cell said Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi had set up a commission of inquiry headed by the director of military intelligence to investigate officers who used excessive violence during dispersal of demonstrations in Sadr City on Sunday.

The cell said in a statement - quoting the prime minister - that these officers have acted in a manner contrary to the orders in the rules of engagement.

For its part, the Operations Command said that these commanders and officers were already referred to the investigation immediately.

Earlier on Monday, the Iraqi prime minister ordered the replacement of troops deployed in Sadr City, east of Baghdad, with troops from the Interior Ministry.