Massive demonstration in central Baghdad

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A massive demonstration was staged on Friday in al-Tahrir square in central Baghdad, calling for improving services and fighting corruption. “Dozens of citizens went to streets on Friday billed as ‘Friday of Truth’, calling for better services and fighting corruption,” Emad Karim, a protestor, told IraqiNews.com news agency, noting that they aim to remind the government with the promises mande to protestors in the past two weeks. Like other countries in the Middle East, Iraq has been buffeted by protests in the wake of the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt. Unlike elsewhere, demonstrators are not aiming to replace the regime. Instead, they focus on improving government services like electricity supply. “The current situation is not the responsibility of one group, rather it is a joint responsibility,” al-Maliki told them. “The executive and legislative authorities share responsibility in both successes and setbacks.” Small-scale protests have taken place almost daily around the country by people demanding better services, government workers pushing for more pay and widows and orphans asking for government stipends. Most of the protests have been peaceful, but demonstrators and security forces have clashed on many occasions. At least 14 people were killed in Feb. 25 demos billed as the “Day of Rage.” SH (TS) 1057