Masked Iraqi security forces gun down at least 18 anti-government protesters
IRAQI security forces wearing masks opened fire at protesters in the Shi’ite holy city of Karbala yesterday, killing 18 people and wounding hundreds.
The attack came as Iraqis took to the streets for a fifth day running, protesting against government corruption, lack of services and other grievances.
The protests, leaderless and largely spontaneous, have been met with bullets and tear gas from the first day.
At least 72 protesters – not including the latest fatalities in Karbala – have been killed since anti-government protests resumed across Iraq on Friday, after 149 were killed during an earlier wave of protests this month.
Security officials said that more than 800 people were wounded in the shooting in Karbala’s Education Square, where protesters had set up tents for a sit-in.
One witness said hundreds of protesters were in the encampment when live bullets were fired at them from a passing car.
Masked gunmen in black clothes then arrived and started shooting at the protesters. Tents caught fire, said the witness, who asked to remain anonymous for his safety.
The demonstrations in cities across the south of Iraq are fuelled by anger at corruption, economic stagnation and poor public services.
Despite vast oil wealth, Iraq suffers from high unemployment and crumbling infrastructure, with frequent power cuts that force many to rely on private generators.
Adel Abdel-mahdi, the prime minister, has promised a government reshuffle and a reform package in response, which the demonstrators rejected.
Authorities on Monday announced a curfew would be introduced from midnight to 6am in the capital, Baghdad.
Thousands of students joined the protests on Monday, when at least three were killed in clashes with security forces, including a 22-year-old female medical student, the first woman to be killed since the protests began.