Thousands of demonstrators in Baghdad’s squares denounce US occupation
SANAA, Jan. 18 (YPA) – Tens of thousands of Iraqis took to the streets in the capital Baghdad, and other cities in the south and center of the country to protest against the presence of foreign forces in the Country.
They began arriving frequently after Friday prayers and sermons, despite the continuing security and military deployment.
Friday’s demonstrations have witnessed new slogans against both the United States and Iran, while attacking power parties, accusing them of working for foreigners and betting on the country’s future.
The capital, Baghdad, witnessed mass demonstrations, which took place in Tahrir and Al-Khalani and at the Al-Jumhuriya and Al-Sinak bridges, which were attended by citizens from both sides of al-Karkh and Al-Rusafa.
Although kidnappings, assassinations and threats against activists continue to be carried out, the demonstrations have been massed.
Basra protesters chanted several slogans, most notably “Don’t bet on the cold, rain and time, stay until the country recovers”, and “No one loves the country like the poor, let us live in it like others”.
In contrast, security forces have taken strict measures to prevent demonstrators from leaving the demonstration squares or attempting to go to official headquarters in downtown Basra.
Similar demonstrations were also widely held in Sadr City in Najaf and Diwaniyah. The demonstrations continued with slogans that were no different from what Basra protesters had raised.
Najaf demonstrators threatened to resort to civil disobedience and disrupt all life facilities, saying they supported the deadline set by the Nasiriyah demonstrators.
“The parliament gave the same deadline set by the Demonstrators of Nasiriyah (20th of this month) to end the formation of the transitional government, as agreed by the people’s masses of the characteristics and specifications,” the statement said.
According to the statement, the demonstrators stressed “the rejection of procrastination and delaying in fulfilling our legitimate demands, and our failure to recognize any government intended to recycle the waste of corruption parties”.
E.M