Thousands of demonstrators flocked to Tahrir Square in central Baghdad yesterday, where some raised slogans in support of the top Shiite cleric in Iraq, Ali al-Sistani, while activists reported that some of the demonstrators are supporters of the militia of the Popular Mobilization, which raised concern among the demonstrators who demanded two months ago Activists accused “party mendices” of stabbing protesters with knives in Tahrir Square.
The new demonstrators waved the flags of the Popular Mobilization Militia, which became official after they became part of the Iraqi forces, also carrying pictures of faction fighters.
Others uploaded pictures of the Shiite cleric, Ali al-Sistani, whose government Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned after his recent sermon.
They mingled in the anti-government protesters' camp in Tahrir Square, the beating heart of the uprising, which has been going on for nearly two months, killing nearly 430 people and injuring 20,000.
Sources from Tahrir Square said that the demonstration came out under the pretext of supporting peaceful protests demanding the legitimate rights of Iraqis, and blocking the way to `` saboteurs '', expressing fears of the possibility of any friction or clashes, which may pose a threat to the demonstrators who have been in Baghdad for more than a month.
The Baghdad Operations Command announced that nine wounded among the security forces, following a grenade attack at the central bank checkpoint in the Iraqi capital, adding that among the injured are serious cases, and explained, in a statement, that unidentified men threw a grenade targeting security forces at the checkpoint of the bank building The Iraqi Central Bank, in Al-Rasheed Street in the center of the capital, wounding nine security personnel.
In southern Iraq, also rising, protests widened yesterday as families of victims and tribes joined demonstrations to demand an end to the violence, according to AFP correspondents.
In Nassiriya, where repression resulted in the deaths of about 20 people last week, tribal delegations joined hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the center of the southern city.
The clan elders stopped the violence in that city last week. Its armed fighters prompted a speedy expulsion of a military officer sent by Baghdad to "restore order."
In the nearby city of Diwaniya, thousands of protesters gathered in the occupied square day and night, weeks ago, demanding justice for victims of repression.
According to an AFP correspondent at the scene, a large number of people filed a claim of "premeditated murder," and is now awaiting trial of officers and soldiers accused of repression, and a court in the city is scheduled to rule later.
A criminal court in Kut, south of Baghdad, on Sunday sentenced a police major to death by hanging, and another to the rank of lieutenant colonel for seven years, after a lawsuit filed by the families of two dead, out of seven shot dead live in the same city.
An atmosphere of calm prevailed in the province of Dhi Qar, after the announcement of the new police chief that the reopening of bridges and regular working hours are now in the hands of the demonstrators only.
The demonstrators opened some streets and bridges, and the province of Dhi Qar witnessed an escalation in recent days, and dozens of deaths in attempts by the security forces to break up demonstrations by force.