Iraqi PM says won’t tolerate attacks on protesters

By Ali Jawad

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AA) – Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi said Saturday his government will not tolerate any use of fire against protesters, one day after a demonstrator was killed by security forces in the southern city of Basra.

"The [Iraqi] State will not tolerate any security personnel, who doesn't obey orders of not using fire against protesters, as happened in Basra,” al-Kadhimi said in a Twitter post.

“The security agencies are determined not to tolerate those who tarnish their image,” he said, without explaining.

According to the premier, security forces have arrested the killer of a protester in Basra on Friday.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry earlier said that a suspect was arrested in Friday’s killing, but without specifying whether he was a security agent.

In August, the Iraqi government said that 565 Iraqis, including security personnel, were killed in anti-government protests since October 2019.

*Ahmed Asmar contributed to this report from Ankara