Iraq .. Security repels the demonstrators from the arena of Khellani and the three presidencies seeking calm

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Clashes erupted between security forces and demonstrators in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and in the south of the country on Sunday, as the three presidencies announced their search for a new election law to end party monopoly.

Al-Jazeera correspondent said that the clashes renewed at al-Khalani Square, near Tahrir Square (central Baghdad), where protests continue.

The correspondent Amir Fendi said that the demonstrators are trying again to reach al-Khalani Square to expand the area they sit in amid protests centered in Tahrir Square, but security forces seem determined to deter them and isolate the two squares from each other, and bloody confrontations took place between the two parties yesterday in this context.

Earlier, Amnesty International said in a statement that six demonstrators were killed on Saturday evening when security forces sought to evacuate al-Khalani Square from the protesters, while dozens were injured.

The organization added that Baghdad and Basra witnessed a bloody day because of what it considered excessive use of force against the demonstrators, and called on the Iraqi authorities to intervene immediately and stop the use of what it called the deadly weapons.

The organization confirmed that the number of people killed in demonstrations in Iraq since the outbreak of the first of October reached 264 dead.

The cities of Dhi Qar and Nasiriyah (south of the country) this morning clashes between demonstrators and security forces, in which a number of demonstrators were injured, and a number of them were arrested.

Statement of the three Presidencies
Meanwhile, the three presidencies (Republican, Parliament and Government) in Iraq announced in a statement that the authorities are working to legislate a new election law that guarantees justice in electoral competition and put an end to what it called party monopoly.

The statement came after a meeting held by Iraqi President Barham Saleh at the Peace Palace in Baghdad today with Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mohammed Halbousi and President of the Supreme Judicial Council, Fayeq Zidan.

The participants praised the demonstrations, confirmed their rejection of any security solution in dealing with them, and stressed the accountability of those responsible for "excessive violence."

They said that the demonstrations help put legitimate pressure on political forces and parties, and on the government to accept the correction of the tracks, and accept the positive changes, especially in the areas of ministerial reshuffle on the basis of efficiency, and reduce the harmful effects of quotas in various forms, as they put it.

The three presidencies also announced that the executive and judicial authorities have begun the legal work to prosecute the defendants in cases of corruption, as well as the prelude to a national dialogue to review the system of governance, and the Constitution in accordance with constitutional and legal contexts.

In the meantime, the bloc "Sairon" supported by the leader of the Sadr movement Moqtada al-Sadr has agreed to any political agreement to keep the government of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.