BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Cities in southern Iraq have seen bloody clashes between protesters and Iraqi security forces, during which 28 people were killed among demonstrators, whose bodies were funeral, defying a curfew imposed by the authorities.
This comes a day after demonstrators set fire to the Iranian consulate in the city of Najaf. The shooting began in the early morning in Nasiriyah, killing 26 people and injuring more than 200 others, according to medical sources, when security forces tried to disperse the demonstrations.
Two demonstrators were killed by security forces during clashes near the Iranian consulate, which was set on fire Wednesday.
Following the bloody events, the prime minister decided to fire the military commander, Lieutenant General Jamil al-Shammari, hours after he was appointed military official in the city of Nasiriyah, which has been witnessing days of continuous protests.
Sadr's leader, Moqtada al-Sadr, issued a statement condemning the killings and said: "I advise the government to resign and if it does not, this is the beginning of the end of Iraq."
Angry demonstrators mourned the bodies of the victims after they set fire to the police headquarters and seized two main bridges.
The demonstrators then surrounded the main military headquarters as armed members of influential tribes deployed in the area along the main highways to prevent military reinforcements from reaching the city.
The large-scale repression in the city of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi came hours after the announcement of the formation of a military crisis cell in the southern provinces to rebuild the security file and restore order.
Lieutenant General Jamil al-Shammari, who was the commander of Basra operations during the bloody summer demonstrations of 2018, took responsibility for the security file in Nasiriyah.
The Governor of Dhi Qar Adel al-Dakhili demanded the Prime Minister to remove Lieutenant General Jamil al-Shammari for violating the security of the province, and called for «the formation of an investigation and punish all who caused the blood of the people of the province».
Protesters burn tires, throw stones and Molotov cocktails at Iraqi forces, who respond with tear gas, rubber bullets and live ammunition.
The latest clashes erupted near the protest square in Nassiriya, where security forces dispersed the protesters and expelled them from two main bridges they had occupied for days.
According to witnesses, angry protesters also set fire to the special mission regiment after their deaths.
Hours later, local authorities announced a curfew. Military reinforcements were seen scattered around the outskirts of the city as all cars and people entering Nasiriyah were being searched.
The authorities took a similar step in the holy city of Najaf, where a newspaper reporter said the streets were almost desolate Thursday morning following the ban, while the local administration declared a public holiday for employees.
On the other hand, Iran demanded Iraq on Thursday to take "firm and effective measures" against "aggressive elements" on its consulate in the city of Najaf.