Mass protests and dead: Iraqi government wants to appease with social package

The demonstrations in Iraq are continuing, and more than 100 people have died. The Iraqi government is trying to calm the situation with a package of social measures. Among other things, 100,000 new apartments will be built across the country, as Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi said after a meeting of the Cabinet late Saturday night. Around 150,000 unemployed Iraqis will also receive support in continuing education programs. In addition, the victims of the past days are to be regarded as "martyrs", which will provide support to the relatives, it says in the package of measures.

Since Tuesday, thousands of mainly young people have been taking to the streets in numerous cities and provinces of Iraq to protest against corruption and mismanagement. At least 104 people have been killed so far, said a spokesman for the Iraqi Interior Ministry. More than 6100 were injured accordingly. Among the dead were also eight security forces.

Shots and tear gas used against protesters

The security forces had used tear gas and gunfire against the protesters over the past few days. Activists complained in social media about the brutal action. On the Internet and in Iraqi channels pictures of the dead and injured were seen. Also shots were heard. Protesters blocked roads and detonated tires. Dozens of buildings were damaged. (Read more about the protests here)

During the night of Sunday there were occasional riots, as seen in videos on the social networks. Protesters lit car tires and erected barricades. On Sunday, a little peace returned and city workers in Baghdad began to clean up.

Despite the oil reserves of Iraq, unemployment is high, especially among young people. According to an overview by Transparency International, Iraq is one of the twelve countries with the highest levels of corruption worldwide. Unemployment has risen sharply in recent years. Already last year, mass protests against the poor power supply and the poor quality of drinking water had taken place in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. Even then, several people were killed.

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On Saturday night, Iraqi broadcaster NRT and Saudi Arabia-funded news channel Al-Arabija reported that their studios had been stormed in Baghdad. Security sources said employees of Al-Arabija had been attacked. It was initially unclear who was responsible for the attacks. Both channels have reported in more detail in recent days than government-loyal Iraqi channels on the protests and casualties.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a dialogue between the government and the demonstrators. Everyone involved must show "extreme restraint," he said in New York. The head of the UN mission in Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert wrote on Twitter to the dead and injured: "This must stop, I call all parties to comply and to think."

The influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called on the government to resign and demanded a new election under UN supervision. Nobody should be silent in view of the "ruthless bloodshed," according to Iraqi media. Al-Sadr's bloc had won the most seats in the parliamentary election last year and so far supported the government.