Iraq teachers to strike as anti-gov't protests continue

By Ibrahim Salih

BAGHDAD (AA) – Teachers and schools in Iraq will start a general strike on Tuesday as anti-government protests entered a fourth day, a teachers' union said Monday.

"It [strike] comes in solidarity with the demonstrators who call for bringing corrupt officials to accountability, achieving justice, providing basic services and creating job opportunities," Abbas al-Sudani, the head of the Iraqi Teachers' Union, said in a statement.

He said the strike will continue until next Sunday.

Demonstrations have rocked Baghdad and other Iraqi provinces since Friday against government corruption, unemployment, and lack of basic services.

At least 75 people have been killed and more than 3,600 others injured since the protests began, according to human rights groups.

Anger has been building in Iraq in recent years due to rising unemployment and rampant corruption. Many in the country have limited access to basic services such as electricity and clean water.

According to World Bank figures, Iraq's youth unemployment is around 25%. It is also ranked the 12th most-corrupt country in the world by several transparency organizations.

* Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara