- Title: With curfew imposed, Iraqis rush to stock up on goods
- Date: 3rd October 2019
- Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (OCTOBER 3, 2019) (REUTERS) BAGHDAD MARKET VARIOUS OF BAGHDAD RESIDENTS SHOPPING FOR VEGETABLES AND FRUITS MAN PUSHING CART FULL OF SUPPLIES AWAY FROM MARKET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SHOPPER, MOHAMED, SAYING: "In regards to the curfew, it is partial. We have travelled from far away and we were able to reach here. Of course, there are increases in food prices because people are afraid of any emergencies in the coming days. I believe the government is aware of this and taking the economy and the state of (food) supplies into consideration." VARIOUS OF VEHICLES IN NEARLY EMPTY STREETS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BAGHDAD RESIDENT, HUSSEIN YOUSSEF, SAYING: "The curfew has of course affected (us). Humanitarian conditions should come as a priority. In terms of work, we can withstand two or three days of curfew but there are people who struggle and live day by day. I don't think the government will knock on doors to check how people are fairing and how they are paying their bills. Those who are struggling, who have given their lives to Iraq, will continue sacrificing until they deliver their message to the international community." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SHOPPING VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS POLICE BLOCKING ROAD PEOPLE WALKING
- Embargoed: 17th October 2019 14:47
- Keywords: Iraq Protests Unemployment Curfew Shopping Stocking up Goods
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- City: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001AZJMNO5
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Iraqis rushed to markets on Thursday (October 3) after the country's Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi declared a curfew in the capital Baghdad on Wednesday.
The curfew was imposed after two days of nation-wide anti-government protests turned violent leading to the death of 18 people and injury of 400 others.
Iraq has struggled to recover from the battle against the Sunni Muslim hardline Islamic State group between 2014 and 2017. Its infrastructure has been laid to waste by decades of sectarian civil war, foreign occupation, two U.S. invasions, U.N. sanctions and war against its neighbours.
"Of course, there are increases in food prices because people are afraid of any emergencies in the coming days. believe the government is aware of this and taking the economy and the state of (food) supplies into consideration," said one shopper in a Baghdad market, Mohamed.
Many Iraqis stocked up on food, water and goods following the announcement, with more unrest expected over the weekend.
"In terms of work, we can withstand two or three days of curfew but there are struggling people who live day to day," said Baghdad resident, Hussein Youssef.
Travellers to and from Baghdad airport, ambulances, government employees in hospitals, electricity, and water departments, and religious pilgrims are exempt from the curfew, the government statement said.
Troops patrolled main roads and public spaces in Baghdad, but by morning small, sporadic demonstrations had begun again in defiance of the open-ended curfew imposed in the capital from 5 a.m.
Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi chaired an emergency national security council meeting and ordered Thursday's curfew in Baghdad.
Curfews were also imposed in Nassiriya, Amara and Hilla as protests that began over unemployment, corruption and poor public services escalated.
Demands on Wednesday included the "fall of the regime" and protesters set government and political party buildings ablaze in two other southern provinces.
(Production: Haider Kadhim, Mostafa Salem) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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