Death toll from protests in Iraq rises to 60, 2,500 injured
The death toll from protests in the country has risen to at least 60, including security personnel, and more than 2,500 people have been injured, most of them protesters, a medical source at the Iraqi Ministry of Health said Friday evening.
"As of Friday evening, the death toll had risen to 60, including members of the security forces," the source said, adding that "the number of wounded exceeded 2,500, most of them protesters."
"The majority of the dead died as a result of gunfire," he said, adding that "ministry of health hospitals in Baghdad and all provinces have been put on high alert to treat the wounded."
"Ambulances transported people who were injured or dead on Friday evening, especially in the capital Baghdad," he said.
Large areas of the capital are witnessing clashes and runoff between security forces and protesters.
Iraq has been witnessing violent protests since Tuesday, starting from Baghdad to demand better public services, job creation and fighting corruption, before spreading to shiite-majority southern provinces.
The demonstrators raised their demands and called for the resignation of Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, after security forces resorted to violence to contain the protests.