For the past two months, popular protests against corruption have been continuing in Baghdad and the cities of Najaf, Kerbela, Basra, Zikar, Nasiriyah, Diwaniyah, Mussena and Missan, most of which are inhabited by Iraqi Shiites, as well as in many other places.

No concrete step has been taken so far answering the demand of the demonstrators for a reconstruction of the political system in the country. People accuse the ruling class of being corrupted and of serving the interests of neighboring Iran.

With increasing violence, the government tries to suppress the protests which have intensified. Among other things, the Iranian Consulate has been burned down in Najaf. This morning, too, people took to the streets again in many cities.

Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “the attack against Iranian Consulate is not compatible with the objective of ongoing protests and aims to damage the Iran-Iraq relations”.

In the meantime, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Musevi called on the Iraqi government to “harshly respond to the assaulters”, and to “fulfill its responsibilities for the protection of diplomatic institutions and diplomats”.

13 dead, 80 injured

The police fired live rounds against the demonstrations in Nasiriyah, Zikar and Diwaniyah and killed many people. A source in the Nasiriyah Health Department reports 13 dead and 80 injured. The number is feared to increase.

Political observers speak of a possible retaliation because of the burning down of the Iranian consulate in Najaf. They voice concerns over a possible increase of deaths and warn that the country could slide into civil war.