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Death toll climbs to 63 in latest round of protests in Iraq
At least 2,592 people — including security officials — have been injured in the protests in the capital Baghdad and the southern cities, the commission said.
(Pixabay Photo)
BAGHDAD — The death toll rose to 63 in Iraq since the latest eruption of anti-government protests, the country’s rights commission said Saturday.
The Iraq High Commission for Human Rights announced the latest death toll since the eruption of protests on Tuesday.
At least 2,592 people — including security officials — have been injured in the protests in the capital Baghdad and the southern cities, the commission said.
Iraqi authorities said Saturday 12 burnt corpses were extracted in Dewaniya.
The Dewaniya health circle said the bodies were pulled out of the governor’s office and the burnt-down premises of political parties in the province, according to local media.
Over the past month, Iraq witnessed mass anti-corruption protests which left hundreds dead. Successive Iraqi governments have failed to put an end to nepotism and corruption as the current government struggles to end the mismanagement of public funds.
Protests paused for the observation of religious ceremonies in the southern city of Karbala, before flaring up again on Friday.
Over 200 people died, with 8,000 injured during the protests, which spread from Baghdad to southern cities.
Discontent has been growing in Iraq in recent years due to rising unemployment and rampant corruption. Many in the country have limited access to basic services such as electricity and clean water.
According to the World Bank figures, Iraq has a high rate of youth unemployment of around 25 percent. It is also ranked as the 12th most-corrupt country in the world by several transparency organizations. (Anadolu)
