A number of demonstrators were wounded in Basra Governorate, southern Iraq, as a result of the security forces' use of live bullets to disperse them in the city center yesterday evening.

Local sources in the governorate said that hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the vicinity of the home of Governor Asaad Al-Eidani, to demand accountability for the killers of the activists, the most recent of which was Osama Tahsin Al-Khafaji, who was killed last Friday by unknown gunmen.

And these sources indicated that the protesters burned a police car, and parts of the courtyard of the governor's house.

The demonstrators also gathered in front of the police headquarters to demand the dismissal of the police chief and senior officers, after the expiration of the period that the protesters gave to the police to reveal the parties that target the demonstrators.

Video footage showed protesters throwing stones at security forces in front of the governor's house, and police cars were burned.

Al-Khafaji's dead body lying on a bed at Basra Hospital (Al-Jazeera)

Eyewitnesses stated that the security forces fired live bullets and tear gas towards hundreds of demonstrators in front of Al-Eidani's house, noting that this is in violation of the directives of Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kazemi, who emphasized the prevention of firing live bullets against the demonstrators.

Hisham Daoud, an advisor to the prime minister, said that the government would treat all those killed during the popular protests as "martyrs" and that compensation would be provided to each family of 10 million dinars ($ 8,380).

He called for a coordinating demonstration of the protests in Basra, with the aim of putting pressure on the governor, who had not yet moved on the assassination of the activist al-Khafaji.

Last Friday, Al-Khafaji, who had been active in protests against the political class, was assassinated by unknown gunmen in Basra. Dozens of civilian activists have been subjected to assassinations since the start of the popular movement last October.

According to government figures, 565 protesters and security personnel were killed during the protests, including dozens of activists who were assassinated by unknown persons.