The Latest: Gunmen attack TV offices in Baghdad amid unrest
BAGHDAD (AP) — The Latest on anti-government protests in Iraq (all times local):
10:45 p.m.
Unknown gunmen have attacked the offices of television stations in the Iraqi capital amid the unrest gripping the country.
The Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news channel says masked gunmen who arrived in black cars wearing black clothes stormed the offices of the station in Abu Nawas street Saturday evening, beat up some of the employees and smashed equipment before they fled.
Majed Hamid, the channel's correspondent in Baghdad, said several colleagues were injured. He added that the station had been receiving threats for several days.
Gunmen also attacked the offices of Iraq's Dajla and NRT news channels in Baghdad, according to employees at the stations. Both of those stations are privately owned.
Iraq has been gripped by violence since Tuesday, when anti-government protests started. Security forces have fired live ammunition and tear gas in a desperate attempt to suppress them. Dozens of people have been killed.
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8:30 p.m.
Iraqi officials say at least five more protesters have been shot and killed in anti-government demonstrations that have raged in four neighborhoods in the capital Baghdad, bringing the day's death toll to 14.
The unrest comes after an around-the-clock curfew in Baghdad was lifted Saturday. But there was no dent in the unrest sparked by calls for more jobs and an end to corruption.
The medical and police officials said two protesters have been killed in the western Baghdad working class neighborhood of Shula when security opened fire on rallies after dark. The officials said two more protesters were killed in the area near Tahrir Square where they have been under fire from security forces, bringing the toll there to nine.
In the southern suburb of Zaafaraniyeh, one more protester died of his wounds, according to a medical official there, bringing the area's death toll to two.
The violence Saturday comes despite calls for calm from religious and political leaders. One protester was also killed in the southern city of Diwaniyah where protesters were marching toward the local government's offices.
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6:45 p.m.
Iraqi officials and a member of the semi-official human rights commission say thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in two southern cities and have set fire to political party offices.
An Iraqi security official and the rights commission official say protesters in Nasiriyah have set ablaze the offices of two political parties in the restive southern city.
The two officials said the security forces responded with fire, but there was no immediate word on casualties. The officials described the protest as "very large." In another southern city, Diwaniyah, protesters marched toward local government offices. There were no reports of violence there.
Spontaneous protests started Tuesday in Baghdad and southern cities sparked by endemic corruption and lack of jobs. Security responded with a harsh crackdown, leaving more than 70 killed.
— By Qassim Abdul-Zahra.
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5:55 p.m.
Iraqi officials say five people have been killed in renewed anti-government protests in the Iraqi capital after security forces fired on them on a fifth day of unrest.
The protests Saturday come after a two-day around-the-clock curfew has been lifted.
This brings the death toll since the protests began on Tuesday to at least 69. A semi-official body put the death toll at 94 in Baghdad and southern cities.
Security forces have responded with live ammunition and tear gas to the unprecedented popular anger, sparked by lack of jobs, and endemic corruption in the oil-rich country.
Health and police officials said a protester was killed in the Zafaraniya neighborhood in south Baghdad, and 13 were wounded. In central Baghdad, four protesters were killed. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to brief reporters.
— By Qassim Abdul-Zahra.
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4:40 p.m.
Iraqi officials say one person has been killed and 17 injured as security forces fired on anti-government protesters to disperse renewed demonstrations in the capital Baghdad.
The protests Saturday come after a two-day around-the-clock curfew has been lifted. They also come as Iraqi religious leaders appealed for calm and while politicians scramble to contain the unprecedented popular expression of anger.
Since the start of the protests Tuesday, security forces have responded with live ammunition and tear gas, leaving at least 65 people killed in Baghdad and other southern cities.
Health and police officials said a protester was killed in Zafaraniya in south Baghdad, and 13 were injured. In central Baghdad, four protesters were wounded. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to brief reporters.
The spontaneous rallies are the most serious challenge since the defeat of the Islamic State two years ago. The protesters want jobs, and an end to corruption in the oil-rich country.
— By Qassim Abdul-Zahra.
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12:10 p.m.
Iraqi authorities have lifted a curfew in the capital, Baghdad, two days after imposing the measure in an attempt to quell anti-government demonstrations.
Officials say Saturday at least 22 protesters were killed in the previous day's clashes between thousands of protesters and security forces. It was the deadliest day of violence so far in the capital, and brings the national death toll since the unrest erupted Tuesday to 64.
Security remains heavily deployed but streets and main squares are open to traffic after curfew was lifted at 5 a.m. local time. Municipal workers were clearing the streets of the bullets and debris left behind by the latest confrontations.
The violence came despite calls from Iraq's top Shiite cleric for calm. Parliament is to convene Saturday to discuss protesters' demands.
