BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Baghdad has ordered the arrest of members of the force that ordered the shooting of protesters near the Martyrs Bridge, killing and wounding, while the General Integrity Commission announced the summoning of 26 officials in Diyala province for interrogation on corruption charges.
Iraqi security forces shot dead at least four protesters in central Baghdad on Thursday, police and medical sources said.
The sources said 35 other people were injured in clashes near the Martyrs Bridge as mass demonstrations continued for the 13th day and thousands gathered in the center of the capital.
Meanwhile, a hundred demonstrators were injured by tear gas canisters during the past 24 hours in Basra province in southern Iraq, according to a medical source.
Earlier in the day, Iraqi security forces reopened the port of Umm Qasr in Basra nine days after it was closed by protesters.
Abdul Karim Khalaf, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, on Thursday, issued orders from the latter to arrest those who cut off roads in Baghdad and the provinces.
| Arrest orders for bandits in Baghdad and provinces (Reuters) |
On the other hand, witnesses and human rights organizations said that unidentified gunmen assassinated the activist and blogger Amjad al-Dhamat on Wednesday evening in the city of Amara, the center of Maysan province in southern Iraq.
The organizations explained that Dahamat is known for his support for the demonstrations in the city of Amara about two weeks ago, and his continued criticism of the manifestations of the force used by security forces against the demonstrators.
The rights and civil organizations expressed fears of the spread of the phenomenon of arrest and hide a number of activists in Baghdad and southern provinces.
In the context of the observatory, "Net Bloks" specialized in monitoring Internet activities in the world, that the Internet service was cut again in most parts of Iraq after only three hours of restoration, adding that the rate of Internet access to the Internet dropped to 34%, leaving Iraqis in a semi-isolated , Amid the continuing crisis and popular demonstrations.
| Abdul Mahdi blames previous governments for poor planning and management (Reuters) |
Government promises
Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi said that 5,000 service projects worth about $ 17 billion were disrupted in his country during the lifetime of successive governments, due to poor planning and management.
He explained - during a speech to the Council of Ministers broadcast on Iraqi television - that the Iraqi state budget has been distorted for about 15 years, which led to the worsening of debts and economic problems in the country with increasing unemployment.
On the other hand, announced the Public Integrity Commission in Iraq - Thursday - summoned 26 officials in the legislative authority in Diyala province, to investigate charges related to "corruption and mismanagement."
The decision comes hours after the issuance of two Iraqi courts arrest warrants against the former governor of Basra Majid Nasraoui, and a member of the House of Representatives and the former governor of Babylon, Sadiq Madlul Sultan, on charges related to corruption.
Fighting corruption is at the top of demands for mass protests in Iraq since October.
International concern
At the UN level, the United Nations Mission in Iraq said that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is concerned about the high number of casualties in the ongoing demonstrations in Iraq.
A statement from the mission quoted Guterres as saying that reports from Iraq were disturbing and reflected the continued use of live ammunition against demonstrators.
The statement added that Guterres urges all actors to refrain from violence and seriously investigate what happened, calling for a meaningful dialogue between the government and the demonstrators.
The statement described the disruption of vital infrastructure as a matter of serious concern and that the protection of public facilities was the responsibility of all.
He pointed out that the threat of closing roads leading to oil installations and ports harms the Iraqi economy and undermines the legitimate demands of demonstrators.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini said that the excessive use of force against demonstrators in Iraq is very sad.
A statement by Mogherini said that the Iraqi people have used their right to peaceful assembly to express their problems, stressing that this right must be respected in accordance with the Iraqi constitution.
The statement said that the use of excessive force against demonstrators in Iraq is very sad, and attacks by armed forces against demonstrators undermine their right to peaceful assembly and to express their legitimate demands.
He said the EU is waiting for those responsible to be held accountable, stressing its strong support for Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity.