Officials revealed that approximately 100 people were killed and 4000 were injured in the five-day protests in Iraq, according to Al-Arabiya channel on Saturday.
The Parliamentary Human Rights Committee announced that six policemen were killed in clashes with protesters southern Iraq.
In order to end the current unrests in Iraq, the parliament met with a delegation of the protesters on Saturday and listened to their demands.
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Iraqi Protests 2019[/caption]
Although the internet service is not working in the country, but the curfew was lifted on Thursday. Shops were reopened and Baghdad has restored its routine life, according to France Press Agency.
One hour earlier, the Abu Dhabi-based satellite channel Sky News Arabia reported that the Iraqi protests’ casualties surged to 75.
On Friday, the Iraqi Human Rights Commission disclosed that 60 persons were killed in four days of protests. 18 dead corpses are found in one hospital in Baghdad.
PM Responds to Iraq Protests
Accordingly, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Al-Mahdi called for easing tension, as it’s reported by the official Iraqi news agency.
“We are communicating with protests’ leaders in Baghdad, Najaf, El-Diwaniya, Waset, Samawa and Missan to save lives and meet legitimate demands,” the cabinet’s concerned committee said.
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Iraq Protests in 2019[/caption]
Moreover, Abdel Mahdi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fight corruption and transparency.
He called on legislative and judicial authorities to carry out necessary reforms. In addition, he urged political blocs to offer reforms’ conditions.
Iraq has been witnessing unrests for five days consecutively. Protesters called for resignation of the incumbent government and early elections.
According to Reuters, security forces were seen firing live rounds at protesters trying to reach Tahrir Square in the capital Baghdad - where much of the unrest has been focused.
A Reuters reporter on the ground said several people had been hit by bullets, some in the head and others in the stomach.
At least 10 people were killed there on Friday alone, according to medical and security sources.
raq's most senior Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, urged the government to respond to the demands for reform.
"It has not answered the demands of the people to fight corruption or achieved anything on the ground," he said.
Meanwhile, Moqtada Sadr - another highly influential Shia cleric who leads the largest opposition bloc in parliament - demanded the Iraqi government resign and call snap elections.
Sadr also instructed his lawmakers to pull out of parliament, until the government devises a programme acceptable to the wider public.
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