Baghdad Governor: 5 killed, 320 wounded in violent protests

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Governor of Baghdad stated on Saturday that five people were killed and more than 300 others were wounded after Iraqi security forces fired tear gas and gunshots on thousands of protesters near the fortified Green Zone.

The Governor of Baghdad Ali al-Tamimi in a statement announced that due to clashes between the security forces and the protesters near the Green Zone, four civilians and one policeman were killed and 320 others were wounded as protesters tried to storm the fortified zone.

The supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr, an influential Iraqi Shia cleric, took to the streets calling for the change of the electoral commission staff who are to supervise the provincial elections set to take place in September.

Sadr claimed the electoral commission members were loyal to former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki who is his Shia rival.

Following the clashes with the security forces at the gates of the Green Zone, Sadr called on the protesters to make a “tactical” withdrawal from the area.

The Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called upon the protesters to calm down and to not clash with the security forces.

According to a statement by the PM office, the Iraqi PM called for investigations on the clashes that erupted between the protesters and the security forces during the Saturday protest in Tahrir square.

“An interior ministry statement said guns and knives were found on some protesters,” Reuters reported.

In addition, the Sadr Front issued a statement regarding the clashes and held the government and security forces responsible for the attacks on a "peaceful protest." 

Editing by Ava Homa