Demonstrations Escalated in Baghdad, 2 Killed, Dozens Wounded

At least two people were killed and dozens of others were injured as protesters clashed Monday with Iraqi security forces in Baghdad, the capital.

Two Iraqis were killed and more than 60 injured as demonstrators turned violent in Baghdad after renewed protests over the weekend against the government.

Baghdad’s Operation Command has said that 14 of its officers have suffered various injuries.

Clashes continued in Baghdad on Sunday morning between protesters and security forces, while demonstrations in Basra joined a deadline for political forces set by those in Nasiriyah, announcing that if their demands were not met, they would cut off major roads connecting their areas to the capital.

Local activists told Kurdistan 24 that riot police tried to storm Tahrir Square, the protesters ' main meeting place in Baghdad early on Sunday, but the demonstrators prevented this and burned some tires.

After that incident, witnesses reported shootings of live rounds on Al-Tayaran Square, a short distance east of Tahrir, with protesters claiming injuries.

Security forces have killed more than 450 protesters in the midst of continued violence, and injured thousands more since demonstrations broke out in October 2019. Unofficial estimates among demonstrators range to as high as 600 dead.

In early October, crowds first took to the streets to express long-held grievances over chronically inadequate public services, low living standards, and widespread government officials ' institutional graft.

The UN has called on Iraq to push for reform despite the country's ongoing violence.