Iraqis take to the streets against corruption and unemployment: 2 dead and over 200 wounded

Security forces used water cannons, tear gas and bullets to disperse protesters.  The capital epicenter of the protest, then extended to other centers. Anger at  "the rabble" of parties and militias that "destroyed Iraq".  Among young people unemployment at 25%, since 2004 around 450 billion in public funds has disappeared.

Baghdad (AsiaNews / Agencies) - At least two people have died and more than 200 have been injured in clashes yesterday between protesters and police in Baghdad - the epicenter of the protest - and other cities in the country.  The security forces have used water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullet to disperse the demonstrators who took to the streets against unemployment, corruption and poor quality of public services.

A government note confirms the death of a demonstrator in Baghdad, where most of the injured were recorded (160 civilians).  Among these, there are also 40 members of the security forces.  Unofficial police sources in the southern city of Nassiriya claim that a person among those who took to the streets was shot dead.

Most of the injured have resorted to medical treatment for inhaling gas or being hit by rubber bullets.  Security forces blocked roads and used stun grenades and water cannons to repel the crowd;  to the rejection of the protesters, the agents opened fire.

Among the points chosen by the demonstrators, 3 thousand in all according to various sources, with the flags of Iraq on their shoulders or wrapped around their heads, the famous Tahrir square.  From the first information it seems that there was no unitary leadership and that the protests were born according to a spontaneous movement.  Still others brandished signs with the face of General Abdulwahab al-Saadi, former head of anti-terrorism fired in recent days in a surprise move.

Iraqis accuse politicians and government officials of endemic corruption, which effectively blocks the country and prevents reconstruction after years of war, sectarian conflicts and the rise of jihadists of the Islamic State (IS, ex Isis), now defeated at least at a military level.  "This is not a government - shouted one demonstrator - it is a jumble of parties and militias that destroyed Iraq".

Official sources report that since 2004, a year after the US invasion that led to the ousting of Saddam Hussein, some 450 billion public funds have vanished in the pockets of politicians and businessmen.  Added to this is the high unemployment rate, particularly among young people, which today exceeds 25% (source: World Bank) and is twice the national average.

Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who yesterday presided over the week's government meeting, promised more commitment to youth employment.  Among the first measures, to ensure at least 50% of local workforce for foreign companies investing in Iraq.

Yesterday's demonstrations in Baghdad were the first since the Prime Minister's rise to power in October 2018;  between July and September last year there was violence and demonstrations in the southern city of Basra.