Iraq .. Protesters block yards and roads and the parliament is working on the election law

Demonstrators closed squares and roads in Baghdad and southern Iraq after clashes with security forces, while the House of Representatives completed the second reading of the legislative elections and the electoral commission.

Al-Jazeera correspondent said on Monday that dozens of university and school students flocked to Tahrir Square in central Baghdad despite warnings issued by the concerned departments about irregular working hours.

The demonstrators closed al-Khulani Square near the Al-Senak Bridge and Al-Wathba Square leading to Al-Ahrar Bridge in central Baghdad.

In Basra, southern Iraq, several areas were closed by demonstrators after clashes with security forces in which a number of protesters were killed.

Photos published by activists showed cutting the bridge of the intersection of education and Baghdad Street in Basra with burning tires and stones, while security forces deployed in the place.

Dhi Qar province (south) also witnessed the closure of most of the main roads and bridges, amid the heavy deployment of security forces.

Meanwhile, spokesman for the commander of Iraqi forces Abdul Karim Khalaf said that 11 members of the security forces were wounded in a grenade attack in Baghdad carried out by a group "outlaw".

As protests continue in Iraq since early October, the House of Representatives is considering the bills of legislative elections and the Independent High Electoral Commission, in an effort to calm protesters demanding political reform and fighting corruption.

A new session of Parliament
It is scheduled to hold a new session of the House of Representatives on Tuesday to complete the discussion of the two laws, after he completed in yesterday's session the second reading of both projects. The bills are voted on in parliament after two readings are completed.

For his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives Mohammed Halbousi told reporters that the draft parliamentary election law gives more room for independents and small blocs to achieve positive results in the elections.

He explained that the draft provides for the division of seats equally between individual seats and electoral lists, taking into account the specificity of some provinces.

There have been mass demonstrations in Iraq for weeks demanding the departure of the government and the political elite accused of corruption. The protests included violent clashes in which more than 300 people were killed and thousands wounded.