18 killed in attack against protesters in Iraq
Masked gunmen opened fire at Iraqi protesters in the Shiite holy city of Karbala on Tuesday, killing 18 people and wounding hundreds, security officials said, in one of the deadliest single attacks on protesters since anti-government demonstrations erupted earlier this month.
It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, and protesters said they did not know whether the masked men were riot police, special forces or Iran-linked militias. The protesters said Iraqi soldiers had been stationed around the protest site but withdrew after the attackers began firing tear gas and live fire.The provincial governor, Nassif al-Khutabi, denied that any protesters were killed but said there were some injuries among security forces.
At least 73 protesters — not including the latest fatalities in Karbala — have been killed since anti-government demonstrations resumed on Friday, after 149 were killed during an earlier wave of protests this month.Tuesday’s attack happened in Karbala’s Education Square, where protesters had set up tents for their sit-in.
Another witness said hundreds of protesters were in the encampment when someone opened fire from a passing car. Then, masked gunmen in black plainclothes arrived and started shooting at the protesters, and tents caught fire. The demonstrations have erupted in Shiite-majority areas and have been directed at the Shiite-dominated government and Shiite political parties and militias, many of which are supported by neighboring Iran.
The protests have grown and demonstrators are now calling for sweeping changes, not just the government’s resignation. Prime Minister Adel Abdel-Mahdi has promised a government reshuffle and a reform package, which the demonstrators have already rejected.
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