MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ REFORMS-PROTEST Thousands protest in Baghdad calling for political reform
Record ID:
142182
MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ REFORMS-PROTEST Thousands protest in Baghdad calling for political reform
- Title: MIDEAST-CRISIS/IRAQ REFORMS-PROTEST Thousands protest in Baghdad calling for political reform
- Date: 28th August 2015
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (AUGUST 28, 2015) (AGENCY POOL) VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS CARRYING LARGE IRAQI FLAGS VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING, WAVING IRAQI FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) COLLEGE STUDENT, HUSSAM AL HAJ, SAYING: "These demonstrations will continue until our demands are met and we will move towards achieving comprehensive reforms of state institutions the judicial, executive and legislative." SIGN SAYING "No to corruption" VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS CARRYING SIGNS, READING " No to corruption, yes to reforms" VARIOUS OF WOMEN CHANTING, WAVING IRAQI FLAGS DEMONSTRATORS WALKING AND CHANTING, CARRYING IRAQI FLAGS
- Embargoed: 12th September 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA75BJU96SUXVPGLIJQTF08PFQM
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: At least 20 thousand protesters rallied in Iraq's capital and a string of other cities to press for reforms, improved national services and an end to government corruption.
The rallies on Friday (August 28) were the latest in a series of peaceful gatherings over the past month to demand change.
Baghdad's demonstrators waved thousands of Iraqi flags and chanted the national anthem.
"These demonstrations will continue until our demands are met and we will move towards achieving comprehensive reforms of state institutions the judicial, executive and legislative," said one college student, Hussam al Haj.
Followers of a radical, anti-American Shiite cleric, Muqtada al-Sadr, joined the rally in Baghdad's central Tahrir square, a move that gave the movement an overt political colour when protesters have long tried to keep it above the political fray.
The weekly rallies, which began last month, have been pressing for better basic services like power, water and medical care, as well as an end to corruption and sectarian politics, widely believed to be rampant and involving hundreds of millions of dollars in the 12 years since Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled.
Partly in response to the protests, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is pushing reforms to a system he says has deprived Iraqis of basic services and undermined the fight against Islamic State militants.
He has announced several measures this month to combat corruption and mismanagement including scrapping layers of senior government posts, cutting security details and other perks for officials, and encouraging corruption investigations. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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