At least 18 people were killed during the break up of a sit-in by protesters in Iraq’s Karbala Tuesday morning.

The attack happened as Iraqis took to the streets for a fifth consecutive day, protesting their government's corruption, lack of services and other grievances.

Karbala governor said in a press conference that orders were issued to ban use of live bullets by security forces against protesters, adding that some demonstrators did damage to public property.

72 protesters have been killed since anti-government protests resumed across Iraq on Friday, after 149 were killed during an earlier wave of protests this month. (ILKHA)