Protesters block roads, bridges in Iraq’s Basra, announce general strike
Anti-government protesters blocked on Sunday several
roads and bridges in Iraq’s Basra, a go-to tactic for the regime change
movement that erupted in early October, Iraqi News Agency reported.
A general strike was also announced by activists for
Sunday.
In Baghdad, nine fire departments worked on Sunday
to combat a huge fire that erupted during clashes in the city’s al-Rasheed
street.
Demonstrators spread to a second bridge in the Iraqi
capital on Saturday after security forces retreated from a key area where they
had clashed with protesters, AFP correspondents said.
Protesters have occupied Baghdad’s Tahrir
(Liberation) Square since October 24, spilling over onto four bridges crossing
the river Tigris.
The bridges link east Baghdad to the city’s west,
including the Green Zone where the prime minister’s office, parliament and
foreign embassies are based.
