Iraqi government’s spokesman denies reports on attacks on Baghdad demonstrators:

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Official Spokesman of the Iraqi government, Maj-General Qassim Atta on Monday has denied reports that the Iraqi security forces had attacked demonstrators in central Baghdad‘s al-Tahrir (Liberation) Square. “All media reports about an aggression on demonstrators by Iraqi security forces or preventing them to demonstrate in any area of Baghdad are incorrect,” Atta told IraqiNews.com news agency. One of the demonstrators, called Ali Razzaq, told IraqiNews.com news agency that an armed force, wearing black costumes, have attacked demonstrators in al-Tahrir Square on Sunday noon, tearing down their tent.” “The armed men used electric sticks and daggers in attacking the demonstrators, wounding 7 of them and arresting a number of others, shortly after the withdrawal of the police force, in charge of protecting the demonstrators from al-Tahrir Square,” Razzaq said. A statement by the demonstrators said that “the Iraqi masses have gone to the streets to express their anger due to the deterioration of all rights of Iraqi citizens, calling to put an end for the inhuman violations against them, carried out by corrupt elements in the Iraqi State, who enjoy protection by some parties.” The statement said that “the organizers of the demonstrations don’t represent a certain political party, participating in the political process, though they represent different social communities, some of whom could be members of some parties. SKH (TP)/SR 393