US Calls on Iraq to Hold Early Elections

The White House called, Monday, on Iraqi government to hold early elections and put an end to the violence against protesters across the country.

The White House said in a statement: “The United States is concerned by the continuing attacks against demonstrators, civilian activists and the media in Iraq, in addition to imposing restrictions on internet service.”

Noteworthy, a source in the Iraqi Human Rights Commission said, on Sunday, that the death toll since the start of protests in Iraq last October, reached more than 319, including 13 security personnel, while more than 15 thousand were wounded.

Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi promised, on Saturday, a major cabinet reshuffle in response to the protesters’ demands, Sky News Arabia reported.

Abdul-Mahdi considers the demonstrations as an important tool to press for reforms, Sky News Arabia added.

The prime minister announced that the government and judicial authorities will continue to investigate the deaths and injuries of the protesters and security forces.

On Friday, Spokesman of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, Major General Abdul Karim Khalaf, revealed that some of the protesters were killed during their protests by unknown gunmen in some provinces.

In a statement to Russian television network RT, Khalaf said that some protesters were killed by soldiers while others were killed by unknown gunmen in a number of Iraqi provinces.

He stressed that a committee will be formed to follow up the file of the victims and provide evidence and facts that reveal those who are involved in the killing of a number of protesters.