Three anti-govt demonstrators shot dead in Baghdad

Baghdad, January 25

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Three protesters were shot dead on Saturday in Iraq’s capital and south, medics said, as demonstrators clashed with security forces clearing streets and squares occupied for months by protesters.

One demonstrator was killed in the capital Baghdad and two others were shot in the southern flashpoint city of Nasiriyah, medics in each city said.

Iraqi security forces raided Baghdad’s main protest site at Tahrir Square on Saturday, firing live rounds and tear gas at anti-government demonstrators who have camped out there for months.

The clashes took place after authorities began removing concrete barriers near Tahrir Square and across at least one main bridge over the Tigris River in Baghdad.

In the southern city of Basra, security forces raided the main anti-government sit-in overnight and deployed in force to stop protesters gathering there again, security sources said.

The police arrested at least 16 protesters in Basra, they said. The actions appeared to be an attempt to fully clear out anti-government sit-ins and end months of popular demonstrations that have called for the removal of Iraq’s entire ruling elite. —Reuters

Iran condemns ‘inhuman’ treatment of its nationals

Tehran: Iran foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Saturday condemned what it called the “illegal and inhuman” treatment of its nationals by US border security officers, after reports a student was deported despite having a valid visa. “Such discriminatory measures that only happen over people’s race are against human rights,” he said. AFP