Iraqi Army force surrounds Mosul’s al-Ahrar square to ban demonstrators reaching it

NINEWA / IraqiNews.com: An Iraqi Army force has surrounded al-Ahrar (Liberals) Square in central Mosul on Monday, to prevent demonstrators from reaching the square that witnessed a sit-in demonstration over the past few days, a Ninewa security source said. “An Iraqi Army force has surrounded al-Ahrar Square since Monday morning, preventing demonstrators to reach the square,” the security source said, adding that the Army force closed all the streets leading to the square, where about 3,000 demonstrators gathered on their way to the square. He said the Army force opened fire in the air and opened water hoses to disperse the demonstrators. Mosul had witnessed broad sit-demonstrations in al-Ahrar square since April 9th, demanding the departure of U.S. forces from Iraq, release of detainees and carrying out public reforms. Mosul, the center of Ninewa Province, is 405 km to the north of Baghdad.   SKH (TS)/SR 1000