16 protesters gunned down in Baghdad

Baghdad, IANS. In Iraq’s capital Baghdad on Friday, unidentified assailants opened indiscriminate firing targeting protesters protesting the government, killing 16 protesters and injuring 45 others.

Iraqi Home Ministry sources said the attackers entered a convoy of four-wheeled vehicles into Al-Khalani Square in Baghdad and opened fire on those gathered for the demonstration.

Explain that Al-Khalani is the area that has been under the occupation of protesters since the anti-government mobilization started two months ago. It is close to Tahrir Square.

It was this movement that forced Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to resign. The resignation of the cabinet was approved by Parliament on December 1 amid violent protests in Iraq for the past two months.

The protesters have alleged that Shia political parties and militia members infiltrated the demonstrations and attacked a dozen people. It is known that more than 420 people have died in this violence.

The protesters are accusing the ruling members of being unworthy, corrupt and acting at the behest of foreign forces. The center of the protests was earlier in Baghdad but later spread to Shia dominated areas and Sunni dominated Mosul city.