Iraq using ‘skull-piercing’ tear gas grenades to kill rather than disperse protesters, Amnesty International says
- At least five demonstrators killed in unprecedented use of weapon, according to rights watchdog
- Iraqi prime minister says he is willing to resign as protests continue to rock country
Iraqi security forces are using “skull-piercing” tear gas canisters against protesters, killing at least five in an unprecedented use of the weapon, Amnesty International said on Thursday.
Anti-government demonstrations have rocked the Iraqi capital and its south this month, leaving more than 250 people dead so far – around half of them in the capital.
Iraqi President Barham Salih announced on Thursday that Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi was willing to step down, but only if parliament’s main blocs could agree on his replacement. Angry Iraqis thronging the streets, however, said his resignation would not be enough.
“Today we are at a stage where our demand ceiling is much higher than the prime minister’s removal, The people of Iraq want a complete overhaul of the political system,” said protester Salman Khairallah, 27, who wore a T-shirt emblazoned with “We dream of a new Iraq”.
Amnesty said an investigation it carried out showed that security forces in Baghdad had deployed military-grade tear gas canisters “to kill rather than disperse protesters”.