Amid a security inquiry, the crowds of demonstrators in Baghdad reject calls to go to the Green Zone

Large numbers of demonstrators gathered today, Tuesday, in the protest squares in Baghdad, amid a security alert, and prevented any of them from going to the Green Zone, days after an attack that killed and wounded dozens of protesters in al-Khilani Square.

More demonstrators joined the protesters in the protest squares in Baghdad, and activists on the media published pictures showing large numbers of people in Tahrir Square.

Thousands of people also flocked to the scene of demonstrations in the governorates of Babel, Dhi Qar, Maysan, Karbala, Najaf, Diwaniyah, and Basra (central and southern Iraq).

Al-Jazeera correspondent said that the demonstrators of the Tahrir Square in Baghdad have erected several barriers to separate them from the security forces on the bridge of the Republic to prevent any demonstrators from crossing the bridge and advance towards the Green Zone, which includes government offices, parliament and a number of embassies.

This development coincides with several calls by parties close to the demonstrators to gather and enter the Green Zone to compel the authorities to respond to their demands, which are rejected by other parties of the demonstrators as they justify - according to what they said - to the Iraqi authorities to use violence against the demonstrators and end the demonstrations by force.

Sources said that the central areas of Baghdad, especially the Green Zone, which includes the headquarters of the government and parliament and a number of embassies, are witnessing a great security spread. She added that security forces installed a number of checkpoints that were not previously present.

Ahmed Khalaf, a police officer with the rank of captain, told Anadolu Agency that the Baghdad Operations Command (the army) imposed strict security measures in the capital, especially near the protest areas in the liberation and al-Khalani areas.

During the protests that have continued since the beginning of last October, bloody confrontations took place by the security forces and demonstrators who tried to cross bridges to the Green Zone.

In conjunction with calls for mass demonstrations in Baghdad, Iraqi Army Chief of Staff Othman Al-Ghanem promised to protect the protesters.

In a statement marking the second anniversary of the victory over the Islamic State, Al-Ghanem said that the army and security forces are present to protect the demonstrators until the fulfillment of their demands, which he described as legitimate and guaranteed in the constitution.

The Iraqi Chief of Staff described the army as a safety valve and a protector of the people, saying he had missed the opportunity to incite violence. He also expressed his regret for the deaths of the security forces and the demonstrators.

"Chaos"
On the other hand, Khazali, who leads Asaib Ahl al-Haq, one of the factions of the popular crowd, said that the purpose of calling for the demonstrations today is to "inflict the largest possible number of deaths and cause chaos" in Baghdad.

Khazali added in a speech to a youth gathering yesterday, Monday, that what is happening is "a plan designed to burn the country's institutions and destabilize the security situation."

The Hashd factions, especially those close to Iran, are facing accusations of suppressing anti-government popular protests, by masked gunmen and snipers shooting protesters across the country.

Many demonstrators have accused the Hashd militants of being behind the attack that targeted the demonstrators on Friday, during which 25 demonstrators were killed, in the incident known as the "Al-Khilani massacre" (central Baghdad), charges the crowd denies.

The new government
Politically, Iraqi President Barham Salih renewed his call to the political blocs to cooperate to nominate a new prime minister for the country and form a new government, after the resignation of the current Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi late last month under pressure from the protests.

In a statement, Saleh said that the new government will ensure that problems are resolved and the reconstruction of Iraq and its institutions. He also called on demonstrators and security forces to make squares and bridges points of intersection.

Saleh warned against what he described as the corrupt infiltrated enemies who want Iraq and its people worse.