A police official said security forces fired in the air when
demonstrators chanting against corruption tried to approach the headquarters of
the Kurdistan Democratic Party, where clashes on Thursday killed two people and
wounded dozens.
"Hospitals in Sulaimaniya received 48 wounded people
including 19 police and security forces," said a health official who asked
not to be named. "There are 11 people wounded by gunshots." Gunmen
raided and set fire to a television station in the city, shutting down
broadcasts of the protests, station and government officials said.
The protesters are seeking better public services, the
ouster of local officials and other demands. Similar rallies took place in
Fallujah and other locations.
In Baghdad, the Cabinet decided to have ministers visit
demonstrators to soothe anger over corruption, shortages of food and
electricity and other issues behind a series of protests that have triggered
skirmishes with security forces.
Unlike their regional counterparts, Iraqi protesters generally
have not been calling for the removal of their elected government, installed
just two months ago after months of tense negotiations between political
factions. Dictator Saddam Hussein was swept away by the US-led invasion in 2003.
The raid on NRT satellite channel in Sulaimaniya was carried
out by 50 masked gunmen wearing security force uniforms who sprayed the station
with gunfire, smashed equipment, wounded a guard and lit fires, Twana Othman,
the station's manager, said.
NRT had aired coverage of violent protests in Sulaimaniya
last week.
Bahrouz Mohammed, the local governor, condemned the attack
and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice.
"Those saboteurs who attacked the TV station are trying
undermine stability in Sulaimaniya," he said in a statement.
In the western city of Fallujah, about 300 protesters
demanded the firing of the governor and provincial council members in Anbar
province. Dozens of people rallied for jobs in the southern province of
Nassiriya, Abdul Hadi Mohan, deputy head of the provincial council, said.
The Cabinet decision to reach out to protesters underscored
politicians' concerns over growing unrest.
"The general secretary of the council of ministers has
called for immediate action to improve the food ration card system and to work
on reforming the social benefits system," said a statement issued by the
cabinet's media office.
"The finance minister has been ordered to request
parliament to start launching job opportunities to reduce unemployment." In
recent days Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki has moved to soothe anger by cutting
his pay, reducing electricity bills, buying more sugar for the national food
ration program and diverting money from fighter jets to food.
