PM Abdul Mahdi says no ‘magic solution’ to Iraq’s problems as protest death toll hits 44
- The unrest, fuelled by popular rage over poor living standards, is Iraq’s biggest security challenge since the defeat of Islamic State in 2017
- The country’s top Shiite cleric called on the government to heed them ‘before it’s too late’
In an overnight TV address, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said he understood the frustration of the public but there was no “magic solution” to Iraq’s problems. He made reform pledges, but these drew a scornful response from demonstrators.
The violent demonstrations have escalated by the day since they first erupted on Tuesday, sweeping across the country spontaneously, without public backing from any organised political group and taking the authorities by surprised.
Security forces have fired live ammunition at crowds of mainly young men, and gunmen have occasionally fired back. Hundreds of people have been wounded, including members of the security forces as well as demonstrators.
Police and medical sources said the death toll of at least 44 included 18 people killed in the southern city of Nassiriya, 16 in the capital Baghdad, four in the southern city of Amara and four in Baqubah, to the capital’s north. Other deaths were reported in two other southern cities, Hilla and Najaf.