Sheikh Abdul Mahdi al-Karbalai, the representative of the Supreme Shiite authority in Iraq, Ali al-Sistani, blamed the Baghdad government and security services for the deaths of demonstrators, and the failure to protect them in the bloody protests that took place in the country last week and claimed the lives of more than 100 people.
"The government and its security services are responsible for the heavy bloodshed in the demonstrations of the past days," he said during Friday prayers in Karbala, setting a two-week deadline for the authorities to announce the results of their investigations.
Since October 1, Iraq has witnessed seemingly spontaneous demonstrations driven by social demands, but directed by live bullets. The official toll from the violence in Baghdad and the mainly Shi'ite south has also reached more than 100 dead and more than 6,000 wounded.
Karbalai added that what happened "horrible scenes of extreme cruelty exceeded the perception and exceeded all limits," adding that the government is responsible "when armed elements outside the law, under the eyes of the security forces, the protesters and snipers, and assault on certain media in order to intimidate the workers." .
The government accused "unidentified snipers" of shooting at demonstrators and security forces alike, while human rights organizations pointed out that security forces were involved in the suppression of demonstrations.
The military command admitted Monday that there had been "excessive use of force" during clashes with protesters in the capital.
The Shiite authority called on Friday to "put an end to those who threaten, beat, kidnap, snip and kill while they are free from prosecution and accountability."
On the human rights front, Amnesty International urged the authorities on Wednesday to "properly investigate the excessive and lethal use of force".
Amnesty said it had interviewed eight activists who said they saw protesters killed by snipers.
She said she had collected testimony describing a "grim campaign of harassment, intimidation and the arrest of peaceful activists, journalists and demonstrators."