Thousands of Iraqis rally against government, Iran, US
Thousands of Iraqis rallied across the country on Friday, reviving a months-long protest movement against the government and adding criticisms of both the US and Iran to their chants.
The anti-regime demonstrations had been overshadowed recently by spiralling tensions between Tehran and Washington, which led each country to carry out strikes against the other’s assets in Iraq over the last week.
Fearing their movement would be eclipsed by war, Iraqi activists posted calls on social media in recent days for a mass protest on Friday, which marked the inverse date, 10/1, of the first rallies on October 1, or 1/10.
Iraqis turned out across the country, with hundreds streaming into the capital’s Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the anti-regime movement, journalists said.
“Screw Iran! Screw America!” they cried out in the iconic square, still lined with tents and stalls set up three months ago.
Protesters in Karbala clashed overnight with security forces and others were arrested in Basra on Friday.
Iraq is OPEC’s second-largest crude producer, but one in five people live in poverty and unemployment is rife among youth, according to the World Bank.
Transparency International ranks Iraq the 12th most corrupt country in the world.
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