171 Injured in Clashes during Iraq's Protests

Human Rights Commission in Iraq announced, Monday that 171 demonstrators and policemen were injured during protests that broke out in Baghdad alongside other central and southern governorates.

"32 protesters were wounded, in addition to 139 security men, including 7 officers." the Commission stated in a press statement.

The Commission pointed out that "The injuries were a result of the use of some non-peaceful demonstrators of three grenades and Molotov cocktails, in addition to the use of stones, batons and sticks,"

"Two Civil Defense wheels were damaged and two tents were burnt in Tahrir Square, while the rest of the governorates did not witness any violence or incidents, only small clashes."

On Sunday, thousands of Iraqi protesters rallied in Baghdad’s iconic Tahrir Square and its highly-fortified Green Zone to mark the first anniversary of a protest movement that has rocked the political elite but has yet to achieve its goal of sweeping reform.

The Iraqi mass protests began on October 1 last year and peaked on October 25 due to unemployment, corruption and incompetence in public services.