Newsbrief: Iraqi protesters calls for change

by Ronald Lucas
edited by Brigid Washburn and Paul Lambert

Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been taking to the streets since October 1st to demand for better public services, more jobs and hopes to end to corruption in the region, according to the BBC.

(Photo: BBC )

Dozens of people have been killed in recent days as security forces clearing protestors from the capital, Baghdad where Iraq’s leaders were holding a meeting.

On Sunday October 10th, with the President of Iraq, Barham Saleh, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, Parliament Speaker Mohammed al-Halibousi and Supreme Judicial Council head Fayek Zaydan met in Baghdad.

They agreed on the need for radical reform and also on preparing for a national dialogue to review the ruling system and the constitution.

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq warned Iraq’s leaders on Sunday that there is an accumulation of frustration among the Iraqi people due to the lack of progress in Iraq since the US led an invasion in 2003. UN special representative Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert said, “The Iraqi people cannot afford to be held back by the past nor by partisan interests. Rising hope asks for a leap forward.”

The White House has been seriously concerned by what’s going on in Iraq and also by the deaths of protestors. “Despite being targeted with lethal violence and denied access to the internet, the Iraqi people have made their voices heard, calling for elections and election reforms,” said a White House representative.

The UN fears that terrorists can cause more panic in order to execute their own agendas which may lead to harming the peaceful protestors. “The risk of ‘spoilers’ hijacking peaceful demonstrations is increasing and potentially derailing any attempt at genuine change,” said Hennis-Plasschaert.