Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi yesterday sacked the head of the crisis cell in Dhi Qar province, Jamil al-Shammari, hours after he was tasked with re-imposing security in Nasiriyah, which witnessed violence that killed 24 demonstrators, while four were killed in Baghdad. A curfew was imposed in Najaf after demonstrators burned the Iranian consulate there.

The Iraqi prime minister sacked the head of the crisis cell in Dhi Qar province, Jamil al-Shammari, after at least 24 people were killed when troops opened fire on protesters who closed a bridge in the southern city of Nasiriyah before dawn yesterday, state television said.

The governor of Dhi Qar, Adel al-Dukhaili, based in Nasiriyah, a city experiencing violence and located 300 kilometers south of Baghdad, had earlier called on Abdul Mahdi to reverse his decision, threatening to resign if Jamil al-Shammari is not relieved of his duties.

The Governor said in a press statement: «While we have confirmed and confirm the legitimacy of the demands of peaceful demonstrators since the start of the protests until the moment, and stand with their true demands, and our repeated calls for stability and preserve the lives and property of citizens in the province, we point to the security measure taken in the province of Dhi Qar "Lieutenant General Jamil al-Shammari and the military leadership."

The authorities have announced the formation of civilian and military "crisis cells" to curb unrest, and the PMF's military commander has vowed to use force to prevent any attack on Shiite religious authorities.

The flare-up at the Iranian consulate in the holy city of Najaf has fueled violence in Iraq, after weeks of mass protests aimed at toppling a government deemed corrupt by protesters and backed by Tehran.

Medical sources said that security forces opened fire on the protesters who gathered at a bridge in Nasiriyah, adding that 24 protesters were killed and dozens injured, and four others were shot dead by security forces in Baghdad when security forces fired live and rubber bullets at protesters near a bridge on the Tigris River.

Thousands of people participated in a funeral procession yesterday in the center of Nasiriyah after 24 protesters were killed in the city, despite the curfew imposed hours ago. A curfew was also imposed in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf after protesters stormed the Iranian consulate late yesterday and set it ablaze. Government and business interests remained closed yesterday in the city, state media reported.

Observers said the events in Najaf would likely lead to a tough response, rather than pushing the government to implement reforms.

Security forces used live ammunition, tear gas and sound bombs against mostly unarmed protesters, and protesters threw police forces with Molotov cocktails and stones.

An army statement said the authorities had formed "crisis cells" in several provinces in an attempt to restore order.

"The crisis cells were formed under the chairmanship of the governors," it said.