The Iraqi people held demonstrations on Friday in Baghdad and nine southern provinces including Basra, Meysan, Ziqar, Mothana, Diwaniya, Waset, Najaf, Karbala and Babel demanding the prosecution of former Iraqi prime minister and ousted vice president Nouri al-Maliki and the sacking of judiciary chief Mid’hat Mahmoud.
TV stations and news agencies reported this week’s rallies were more widespread and crowded than ever before. Al-Rasheed TV described it as million-man marches.
Al-Mada TV quote Baghdad Operations Command chief had said prior to the rally that Friday’s demonstrations would be massive.
Demonstrators in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square demanded Maliki’s prosecution and the Mid’hat Mahmoud to be sacked, al-Baghdadiya TV reported.
In Diwaniya demonstrators burned images of Maliki and Mahmoud, and in Baghdad posters of Mahmoud were placed on roads and trampled upon by the protesters.
Al-Baghdadiya TV in its report from the city of Babel said angry demonstrators were seen carrying placards written: “Maliki is the criminal of the century. Prosecute him” and “Maliki is criminal #1. Prosecute him.”
Angry demonstrators in the city of Nosseriya demanded a deadline for the reform implementation.
Al Jazeera TV reported tens of thousands of people took part in the Baghdad demonstration, including Muqtada Sadr supporters taking part in this rally. They were seen raising placards and chanting slogans, stating their demands and criticizing the government of not implementing their demands. Sadrists stressed they will continue demonstrating until their demands are met.
Al Rasheed TV reporting from the city of Karbala said thousands of protesters demanded Mid’hat Mahmoud to be sacked, the governor – from Maliki’s faction – to also be impeached.
A large number of civil activist and civilians in Karbala demanded execution of reforms and a serious fight against financial and administrative corruption, describing it as more dangerous than cholera that recently plagued a number of Iraqi cities. They raised placards written, “Mid’hat Mahmoud must be expelled immediately.”
