On Friday, at least 19 people were killed and more than 70 others wounded in an armed attack by unidentified gunmen in Iraq's capital, according to local sources.

The country's parliament accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi amid protests against corruption, unemployment and poor living conditions.

Muslim cleric Sistani, who has repeatedly condemned the killing of unarmed protesters and has also urged demonstrators to remain peaceful, said that a new prime minister must be chosen without foreign interference.

Iraqi protests started on 1 October 2019, a date which was set by civil activists on social media, spreading over the central and southern provinces of Iraq, to protest 16 years of corruption, unemployment and inefficient public services, before they escalated into calls to overthrow the administration. Iraqi government has been accused of using bullets, snipers, hot water and tear gas against protesters. The protests stopped on 8 October and resumed on 24 October. Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi announced on 29 November that he would resign. On Dec. 1, the Iraqi parliament accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi. (ILKHA)