Iraq’s Parliament Speaker vows to account persons behind attacking demonstrators:

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq’s Parliament Speaker, Usama al-Nujeify, has called on Sunday for accounting all security forces, who violated the freedom of the demonstrators in Baghdad last Friday and those who stood against the freedom of press.   “The Parliament shall account for all members of the security forces, who had violated the freedom of demonstrations last Friday,” Nujeify told a news conference he held in the Parliament building, attended by IraqiNews.com news agency. Nujeify demanded “the opening of an investigation, especially in the provinces, where some people had been killed or injured.” He said that the Friday demonstrations “had been legitimate and took place according to the Constitution.”  “We shall investigate the cases of torturing some of the demonstrators, along with all those who tried to prevent the freedom of the press to carry out its duty,” expressing “anxiety towards violence against media sources, in a country where the freedom of opinion is supposed to be guaranteed legally.”   Nujeify also demanded the government “lift barriers imposed on the demonstrators, non-use of violence and lifting restrictions imposed on satellite television channels, along with granting them the right for direct transmission, as well as compensating the citizens, who were harmed by the security forces during the recent demonstrations,” saying that he had formed a “special committee to investigate the incidents that took place in Ninewa Province, where 6 people were killed and several others injured, charging some Army men with having attacked the demonstrators.”   The Iraqi capital of Baghdad had witnessed broad demonstrations in its al-Tahrir (Liberation) Square, during which 7 policemen were injured by stone-throwers, whilst 2 of the demonstrators have been injured as well, according to security reports.   Iraq’s Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, had said last Friday that he would follow up the protests of demonstrators and implement all issues that are under his responsibility, as a Prime Minister, along with following up the activity of the ministers and local governments, committing them to implement their promises to the citizens, adding that investigation would take place towards the violations that took place in certain areas, during the demonstrations.   SKH (TS)/SR 294