Protestors stream into festivities square in Mosul despite curfew

NINEWA / IraqiNews.com: Scores of Protestors streamed into al-Ihtifalat (festivities) square in north of Mosul on Friday despite the curfew and the vehicle ban announced on the city, according to well-informed sources. “Around 200 protestors headed to al-Ihtifalat square, north of Mosul, despite the decision to impose a complete curfew,” a source told IraqiNews.com news agency, noting that they were carrying banners and flags. “Security forces deployed throughout Mosul prevented protestors to leave their neighborhoods,” he added. 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 (TS) 650