Baghdad calm, day after forces use tear gas, rubber bullets aga
Iraqi riot police stand guard at a bridge in Baghdad. AFP file photo.
BAGHDAD – Security forces stood guard on Baghdad’s major streets and its fortified Green Zone on Saturday, returning calm to the Iraqi capital a day after a dozen protesters were injured by tear gas and rubber bullets.
The government of Prime Minister Haidar Abadi has remained virtually paralyzed following weekly protests since April 30, when thousands stormed the parliament building and forced the legislature to shut down.
Ahmed Haji Rashid, head of the Kurdistan Islamic League (KIL), told Rudaw that Abadi was scheduled to speak with Kurdish MPs on Sunday to discuss their return to their duties, after they left the capital for the autonomous Kurdistan Region following the attack on parliament.
The Kurdish MPs have so far refused to return, despite a visit to Kurdistan by Abadi for discussions.
On Friday in Baghdad, security forces opened fire with rubber bullets and tear gas on supporters of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Sources said two protesters were wounded by the rubber bullets and at least 10 suffered injuries from tear gas.
Protesters have twice breached the Green Zone and briefly taken over parliamentary buildings since April 30.
Last Friday, three protesters and one journalist were killed, and at least 570 people were treated at Baghdad hospitals when security forces used live ammunition against protesters.
Sadr has been demanding that Abadi throw out corrupt ministers and name a government of technocrats, following reports and allegations of massive official corruption.
US officials have expressed concern that the protests and government paralysis is turning focus away from the war with ISIS, at a time when the Iraqi Army is fighting to liberate the city of Fallujah from the militants and plans have been discussed for an offensive on Mosul, the ISIS stronghold in Iraq.
Iraqi riot police stand guard at a bridge in Baghdad. AFP file photo.
BAGHDAD – Security forces stood guard on Baghdad’s major streets and its fortified Green Zone on Saturday, returning calm to the Iraqi capital a day after a dozen protesters were injured by tear gas and rubber bullets.
The government of Prime Minister Haidar Abadi has remained virtually paralyzed following weekly protests since April 30, when thousands stormed the parliament building and forced the legislature to shut down.
Ahmed Haji Rashid, head of the Kurdistan Islamic League (KIL), told Rudaw that Abadi was scheduled to speak with Kurdish MPs on Sunday to discuss their return to their duties, after they left the capital for the autonomous Kurdistan Region following the attack on parliament.
The Kurdish MPs have so far refused to return, despite a visit to Kurdistan by Abadi for discussions.
On Friday in Baghdad, security forces opened fire with rubber bullets and tear gas on supporters of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Sources said two protesters were wounded by the rubber bullets and at least 10 suffered injuries from tear gas.
Protesters have twice breached the Green Zone and briefly taken over parliamentary buildings since April 30.
Last Friday, three protesters and one journalist were killed, and at least 570 people were treated at Baghdad hospitals when security forces used live ammunition against protesters.
Sadr has been demanding that Abadi throw out corrupt ministers and name a government of technocrats, following reports and allegations of massive official corruption.
US officials have expressed concern that the protests and government paralysis is turning focus away from the war with ISIS, at a time when the Iraqi Army is fighting to liberate the city of Fallujah from the militants and plans have been discussed for an offensive on Mosul, the ISIS stronghold in Iraq.
