Iraq

Protests throughout Iraq have further undermined the position of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Almost buried by the momentous occurrences in the Middle East, the events here are, nevertheless of some significance. There is no unified movement against the government but a great deal of discontent is coming to the surface in many, often good-natured demonstrations.

Monday Valentine’s day protest

Brandishing roses and balloons and dressed in Valentine red, hundreds of young Iraqis denounced the greed of their leaders in a protest on Monday inspired by the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.
Dont build palaces - fix the sewers, proclaimed a banner carried by protesters at Baghdad’s Tahrir Square.
Another banner denounced the $11,000 monthly salary - before benefits - that Iraqi MPs approved for themselves. Prime Minister Nouri Maliki called the protesters demands real, and urged officials to address them.

Wednesday

Two people were killed and many wounded when police shot at a crowd of protesters in Kurdistan, northern Iraq. Protesters carrying slogans against corruption and high unemployment, tried to storm the local government offices in Sulaimaniya.

Three people were killed in clashes with police in the southern city of Kut.

The Prime Minister appealed for calm.

Thursday

Two people were killed and dozens wounded when protesters looking to oust the local government and seeking better services rallied at the headquarters of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, which is headed by Kurdish president Masoud Barzani.

Security forces swarmed the streets of Sulaimaniya after the incident.

Barzani called on the government to open an investigation into the incident.

Friday Protesters calling for a provincial governor to resign blocked a bridge in the southern Iraqi city of Basra today, as demonstrations against government continued across Iraq.

Saturday

Hundreds crying for political reform came into the streets in Kurdistan .

A thousand people in Bagdad demanded better rights for orphans and widows.

Demonstrators in Kut calling for the removal of the provincial governor; Deaths during the week in the northern city of Sulaimaniya brought further hundreds into the streets.

In a separate protest at Sulaimaniya University on Saturday, hundreds of students condemned the KDP and called for political reforms and justice.

Protesting appears to have become the norm as throughout the country there are cries against corrupt government and electricity and food shortages.