At least five dead in Iraqi 'day of rage' protests - Polidicks

[quote] [B]At least five dead in Iraqi 'day of rage' protests[/B] At least five people have been killed in anti-government protests in Iraq as thousands take to the streets in cities across the country for a "day of rage". Baghdad has been virtually locked down, with the authorities banning traffic in the city centre and deploying several thousand soldiers on the streets. Still, several hundred people gathered in Baghdad's own Tahrir Square, calling for reform, but not regime change. Mass demonstrations are also being held elsewhere in the Middle East. [LIST] [*] In Libya, witnesses say government troops opened fire on protesters in Tripoli, as the authorities crack down on opposition protests [*] Yemen saw some of the largest marches yet by pro- and anti-government protesters in the capital Sanaa [*] Egyptians in their thousands returned to Cairo's Tahrir Square to mark two weeks since the ousting of Hosni Mubarak from the presidency and to press for reforms [*] Tens of thousands attended a day of mourning in Manama for those killed in recent unrest in Bahrain [*] Protests are taking place in Amman, Jordan, and more are expected in the West Bank city of Ramallah [/LIST] The demonstrations follow a wave of Arab revolts that have toppled the presidents of Tunisia and Egypt, and challenged the rule of Col Muammar Gaddafi in Libya. Lock down Soldiers blocked every road leading into Baghdad to try to stop protesters from carrying out their planned day of rage, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in the Iraqi capital. Lock down Soldiers blocked every road leading into Baghdad to try to stop protesters from carrying out their planned day of rage, says the BBC's Jonathan Head in the Iraqi capital.[INDENT]"We want them to enforce justice. We want them to fix the roads. We want them to fix the electricity. We want them to fix the water” Baghdad protester [/INDENT]Baghdad protester No vehicles were allowed into the city centre and thousands of riot police took up position in and around Baghdad Tahrir Square. Protesters threw rocks and stones at riot police and tried to overturn concrete barriers blocking the Jumhuriyah bridge, near the square. On Thursday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki urged people not to join the protests for security reasons, and accused the protest organisers of being al-Qaeda insurgents and Saddam Hussein loyalists. But several hundred people still braved the intimidating military presence to rally in the square, denouncing corruption and poor services, says our correspondent. But the cry was for reform not revolution. The government was elected only a year ago and includes most of Iraq's main factions, he adds. "We don't want to change the government, because we elected them, but we want them to get to work," the AFP news agency quoted one 24-year-old student as saying. "We want them to enforce justice. We want them to fix the roads. We want them to fix the electricity. We want them to fix the water." The protesters also criticised the comparatively high salaries paid to MPs when many people are struggling to get by. [IMG]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/51427000/jpg/_51427062_011369502-1.jpg[/IMG] The crowds tried to pull down concrete security barriers in the centre of Baghdad Outside Baghdad, protests have been more violent and at least five people have been killed. In the northern city of Mosul, at least three people died and 15 were wounded in clashes, a police source said. At least two others were killed and 22 injured in scuffles in the northern town of Hawija as protesters set fire to a local council building, a police source said. About 4,000 people protested outside a governor's office in Iraq's second city of Basra, knocking over concrete barriers and demanding the lawmaker resign. Protests were also held in Falluja, Kirkuk and other smaller cities - the latest in weeks of protest as Iraqis vent their frustration over poor living conditions, widespread corruption, and lack of jobs.[/quote][URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12576613[/URL] Well.

Lives lost, not wasted. Best of luck, gents!

I didn't know Iraq celebrated the Hulk's birthday.

inb4 rage comic

Good thing we freed that country!

[QUOTE=TH89;28287405]Good thing we freed that country![/QUOTE] The communist, Islamic extremist brotherhood can't undo what freedom done :911:

Where is Saddam when we need him... oh yeah we killed him.

At least there's no wholesale massacres or chemical attacks.

They're calling for reform, not regime change. This isn't a revolution. The majority of you are completely unaware of the "reform" that they're about to get, too. In a month or so, they'll be some of the happiest people in the middle east.

[QUOTE=windwakr;28287469]Important part for people who are too lazy to read the whole thing and want to know why they're doing this. Why are they starting violent protests if they don't want change in power? Do they not know how to peacefully protest?[/QUOTE] Sounds like a good thing to me. No need to kill anyone though. I guess they'll figure out the concept of a peaceful protest eventually. At least they don't have a dictator that would kill the opposition leaders and silence the people.

[QUOTE=Brage Nyman;28287649]Where is Saddam when we need him... oh yeah we killed him.[/QUOTE] More protesters were killed by Saddam then have died in all of this years protests combined. It's legal for Iraqi citizens to assemble now