24 people killed, over 2,000 wounded in Iraqi protests

TIL Desk/World/Baghdad/ The Iraqi authorities said on Friday that the casualty toll from the new waves of nationwide protests over unemployment, corruption and lack of public services has risen to 24 dead and more than 2,000 wounded.

According to a statement by the Iraqi Independent High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR), the 24 protesters were killed by either tear gas suffocation or live bullets used by the guards protecting the headquarters of the provincial governments and the offices of the political parties.

Eight protesters killed in the capital Baghdad, six in Maysan Province, six in Dhi Qar Province and four in the provinces of Basra and Muthanna, the parliament-affiliated commission said. The number of the wounded has risen to 2,047, including both the demonstrators and security forces, mostly in Baghdad. “Most of the casualties occurred as a result of gunshot wounds, tear gas and rubber bullets,” the statement said.