IS no longer a threat, says Iraq PM
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said that the Islamic State (IS) militant group no longer poses a threat to Iraq and dialogue to end the US-led international coalition to fight the IS group continues.
The death toll in anti-government protests across Iraq in the past five days increased to 93, with nearly 4,000 others injured, according to country’s High Commission for Human Rights on Saturday.
High Commission for human rights said in a statement that of the 555 people who were detained, 355 of them have already been released, in line with a promise made on Thursday night by Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.
The protests also caused material damage to 37 buildings, the statement added.
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Earlier on Friday, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi ordered to lift the curfew in Baghdad. despite anti-government protests continuing in the capital city.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister declared the curfew in Baghdad until further notice after two days of violent protests in the capital as well as in central and southern provinces.
Meanwhile, dozens of protesters took to the streets in at least two areas in the Iraqi capital asking for better services and denouncing corruption and unemployment for the fifth consecutive day, an Interior Ministry source told Efe.
But restrictions on internet access are still in place and a large number of security forces are deployed in Baghdad’s main streets.
The protests began on Tuesday in the capital.
Iraqis were urged to protest on social networks to express their outrage at the lack of work opportunities and generalized corruption, as well as demand better medical, electric and water services.
(With agency inputs)
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