According to Iraqi sources, two demonstrators were killed by live ammunition in capital city Baghdad, two others were killed the northeastern city of Baqubah and one more was killed in the southern city of Karbala.

On the other hand, two police officers were hit and killed by a civilian car during the protest in the Iraqi oil city of Basra.

The Iraqi protests started on 1 October 2019, a date that 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. The Iraqi government has been accused of using bullets, snipers, hot water, hot pepper gas and tear gas against protesters.

The protests stopped on 8 October and resumed on 25 October. Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi announced on 29 November that he would resign. On 26 December, President Barham Salih submitted a letter of resignation after refusing to appoint governor of Basra Assad Al Eidani as the new Prime Minister, stating that the demonstrators would not approve Al Eidani.

The protestors call for the end of the political system, which has existed since the US invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein and has been marked by sectarian divides. The protests are the largest incident of civil unrest since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

A week ago, protestors gave the government until Monday to accept their demands, including the holding of a snap poll under a new electoral law, the appointment of an independent prime minister and the prosecution of officials suspected of corruption. (ILKHA)