SULAIMANI (ESTA) — At least 25 people including security forces were wounded during anti-government protests in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf on Saturday, a medical source said on Sunday.
Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets in Najaf city on Saturday to protest against corruption and unemployment.
The protesters, which local media reported as nearly 3,000 people, blocked roads and burned tires as they called for the resignation of governor Louay al-Yasiri.
Protesters were seen gathering within distance of security forces as plumes of smoke rose from burning tires on the streets.
Anadolu Agency cited a medical source as saying that 20 protesters and five members of Iraqi security forces were wounded in the demonstration.
Decades of war, government graft and a dearth of investment have left Iraq’s water, electricity and other public works in a pitiful state.
Many households have only a few hours of mains electricity per day and complain of polluted tap water. The resulting anger has sparked huge protests in the past.
Iraq’s biggest anti-government protests in decades broke out in October 2019 and continued for months, with hundreds of thousands of Iraqis demanding jobs, services and removal of the ruling elite, whom they accused of corruption.
Nearly 600 people were killed, and the protests caused the resignation of Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, who took office in May 2020, has pledged justice for activists killed or abused by armed groups. But no prosecutions have occurred so far.
The clashes come just a week before Pope Francis visits Iraq from March 5 to 8. He is due to tour the ancient Mesopotamian site of Ur, only a few kilometers (mile) away from the clashes.
