Violence deepens in Iraq, over 40 activists killed
Iraq has had one of the deadliest days since the beginning of the protest movement. Over 40 people died in the south of the country on Thursday.
Iraqi security forces on Thursday shot dead over 40 people in the country's south. It has been one of the bloodiest days of violence since the anti-government protests erupted in early October.
Eyewitnesses told of at least 33 protesters killed in Nasiriya after security forces used live ammunition and tear gas canisters on crowds.
Another 11 people were reported killed in Shia holy city of Najaf.
Protests have been held in Najaf, Karbala, Basra, Zikkar, Mussena, Missan, Nasiriye and Divaniye, where Arab Shiites live as well as in the capital Baghdad, for almost two months.
The protests began on 1 October and more than 390 people have been killed and around 16,000 people have been injured in the actions that demanded the resignation of a government and a political class considered nothing but corrupt and fraudolent.
Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdulmehdi dismissed General Jalil al-Shammari because he ordered the use of violence against demonstrators. Zikar (the hometown of the General) Governor Adil Duheyli said in a written statement that he would resign if the situation in the province continues.
Shortly after the written statement, Zikkar Governor Adil Duheyli issued a new statement and announced his resignation. Duheyli wrote: "A governor who cannot protect the people of the city should resign from his post. We were not instructed to use violence against the demonstrators."
Amnesty International said in a new statement: "The scenes from Nasiriyah this morning more closely resemble a warzone than city streets and bridges. This brutal onslaught is just the latest in a long series of deadly events where Iraqi security forces meted out appalling violence against largely peaceful protesters.”
Amnesty added: "With well over 300 protesters now dead across Iraq since 1 October, and thousands more injured or arrested, this bloodbath must stop now. The international community must speak loudly and clearly, pressing for Iraq to rein in the security forces and launch effective and impartial investigations aimed at bringing to justice those responsible for unlawful killings and other serious violations."
