Iraq protests: Protesters burn down Iranian consulate, 47 policemen injured

Iraq protests: Protesters burn down Iranian consulate, 47 policemen injured

The demonstrators are rallying against corruption, low living standards and unemployment.

ANIUpdated: Thursday, November 28, 2019, 08:03 AM IST
article-image
Iraqi demonstrators gather as flames start consuming Iran's consulate in the southern Iraqi Shiite holy city of Najaf on November 27, 2019, two months into the country's most serious social crisis in decades. | Photo by AFP

Iraq: Forty-seven police personnel were wounded in clashes with demonstrators outside the Iranian consulate building in Iraq's southern city of Najaf, Luay Yasiri, the governor of the Najaf province, told Al Arabiya on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the provincial authorities imposed a curfew in the area as dozens of people were involved in the clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

A security source told Sputnik that more than 80 people were injured in the violence. Moreover, the demonstrators set the Iranian consulate building on fire.

"Forty-seven Najaf police members were wounded during the developments (close to) the Iranian consulate," Yasiri told the broadcaster.

The governor emphasised that firefighters were still working to extinguish the fire at the consulate building.

The police have been instructed to avoid using live ammunition for dispersing the demonstrators, according to Yasiri.

The violent protests have been rocking southern Iraq since early October.

More than 350 people were killed and about 15,000 people were wounded since the beginning of the protests. The demonstrators are rallying against corruption, low living standards and unemployment.

RECENT STORIES

'India-China Relationship Has Been Moving In Positive Direction': EAM S Jaishankar During Meeting...

'India-China Relationship Has Been Moving In Positive Direction': EAM S Jaishankar During Meeting...

Axiom 4 Mission: Dragon Spacecraft Undocked From International Space Station (VIDEO)

Axiom 4 Mission: Dragon Spacecraft Undocked From International Space Station (VIDEO)

South Korea Follows UAE; Orders Fuel Checks On Boeing Jets After Preliminary Report Of Air India...

South Korea Follows UAE; Orders Fuel Checks On Boeing Jets After Preliminary Report Of Air India...

Pakistan: Six Killed, 27 Injured After Bus Falls Into Ravine Near Chakri Interchange

Pakistan: Six Killed, 27 Injured After Bus Falls Into Ravine Near Chakri Interchange

Axiom-4 LIVE Streaming: Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, Ax-4 Crew Undocking From International...

Axiom-4 LIVE Streaming: Indian Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, Ax-4 Crew Undocking From International...