Iraqi prime minister Haider al-Abadi-busy fighting Daesh (ISIS) in Fallujah-has told Iraqis to avoid Friday protests in Baghdad this week, saying “All our security forces are preoccupied with liberating Fallujah and nearby areas,” The Guardian and others reported on Thursday.
So what did the protesters do? Protest anyway. Despite his comments, the protests appear to be going forward today. On Twitter, some tweeted pictures of protesters in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square Friday afternoon. Actually, it seems the government expected the protesters would ignore Abadi’s request. Ahmad Mousa, an AFP correspondent, reported an increased security presence in the city today ahead of the demonstrations.
This month’s Baghdad protests largely consist of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s supporters, who lament what they say is a lack of progress made by the government’s anti-corruption reforms.
--AL
