Iraq: Unknown men shoot dead activist

By Amer al-Hasani

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AA) - Unidentified gunmen shot dead an Iraqi activist amid ongoing anti-government protests in the country, a security source said late on Monday.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said Ali Al-Khafaji was killed in a drive-by shooting with silencer guns in Nasiriyah city of the southern province of Thi Qar.

Police have opened an investigation into the incident.

Some 14 activists have been killed by unknown men in similar shootings since protests started in Iraq in October, the Iraqi Human Rights Commission said.

The Iraqi government has pledged to get to the bottom of this killing spree, but so far no significant results have been achieved.

Some activists accuse Iran-backed groups of carrying out these killings.

Iraq has been roiled by mass protests since early October over poor living conditions and corruption, forcing Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi to resign.

At least 499 people have been killed and 17,000 injured in the protests, according to Iraq's commission.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara