Al-Mehdi’s assasination return to “tyranny” – MP

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Al-Iraqiya’s spokeswoman denounced the assassination of journalist and civil activist Hadi al-Mehdi, who was killed in his residence yesterday.   MP Maysoon al-Damalouji described the incident as “shocking,” and the return of the country to “the republic of suppression, fear and tyranny.”   In a statement, as received by IraqiNews.com, she rejected the “hi-jacking of free opinion.”   Al-Mehdi had been one of the organizers of the weekly demonstrations being held since February 2011. The demonstrations demand political and economic reforms, a guarantee of freedoms and eradication of administrative and financial corruption. He was arrested by the security forces and filed a suit against the security personnel who attacked  him.   Damalouji called upon the security forces “to protect the demonstrators and immediately investigate the crime.”   Earlier, al-Iraqiya expressed solidarity with 9 September 2011 demonstration, calling for the same demands wanted by the demonstrators.   Damalouji called upon the demonstrators to “abide by the peaceful objectives of the protest, respect the media personnel and police self-restraint.”   Civil activists have been rallying for the last two weeks to organize this demonstration, demanding the dissolution of the present government for its failure in government administration, lack of services and to eradicate corruption. RM (TI)/SR     256