Iraq News

Iraqi protests on Friday February 25, 2011 in Al Tahrir Square, Baghdad started peaceful and ended in violence and riot. Demonstrators threw stones at security forces who responded by using water cannons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators. Some of the people in the streets believed that their government was working to fail their rally. Curfew and measures taken by security forces to prevent many demonstrators from reaching Baghdad’s Tahrir Square and closing off Al Jumhuriya Bridge were all attempts to obstruct the protest, demonstrators said. Protesters were calling for specified demands. Yet, when faced by security forces, angered protesters raised their voice and asked for the resignation of Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki. Most of the protests that were scattered around Iraq grew into violence as security forces confronted demonstrators by opening fire to disperse protesters. Iraqi demonstrators believe security forces were ordered to act so.