Massive demonstration begins in central Nassiriya

THI-QAR / IraqiNews.com: A massive demonstration began on Friday in central Nassiriya, calling for improving services and fighting corruption and unemployment. “Scores of citizens launched a demonstration from al-Haboubi square in central Nassiriya, carrying banners and flags of Egypt and Tunisia and chanting slogans against the local council,” IraqiNews.com news agency correspondent said. Protesters throughout Iraq streamed into streets on foot after authorities imposed vehicle bans on major cities ahead of rallies over corruption, unemployment and poor public services. The demonstrations come after nationwide protests in more than a dozen cities a week ago, which spurred Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to give his cabinet 100 days to shape up or face the sack. Vehicle curbs have been applied to all of Baghdad, with the capital’s streets deserted but for a handful of cars attempting to evade checkpoints, and the centre of Basra. Nassiriya, in the south, barred anyone from entering. Complete vehicle bans were also placed on every non-Kurdish province north of the capital, with protesters not even allowed near provincial governorate offices in the city of Mosul, after five demonstrators were killed and one building set ablaze in rallies there a week ago. Friday’s rallies have been billed by some organisers as a “Day of Regret”, to mark one year since parliamentary elections. The rallies have led to the resignations of four top officials — three southern provincial governors and Baghdad‘s mayor. SH (TP) 762