On Friday, gunmen operating several vehicles opened fire on an active demonstration in Baghdad, Iraq, leaving 12 dead and 22 wounded. This marks one of the most violent days in Baghdad in several weeks. Thousands of anti-government protestors took to the streets of Baghdad in Tahrir Square over the weekend, resulting in the conflict between the gunmen and protestors. The gunmen, who have yet to be identified, seized a parking lot nearby the protests and opened fire on the crowds.
Iraq’s top Shiite cleric warned foreign powers against meddling in Iraq’s current state of disarray, stating that the country’s new Prime Minister must be chosen without interference from other countries. After Iraq’s previous Prime Minister, Adil Abdul Mahdi, resigned last month amid controversy over the protests, Iraq is under extreme pressure to choose a new head of government. Last week, news of Mahdi’s resignation was celebrated throughout the city and opposition forces.
Read More: 12 protesters killed in Baghdad as cleric warns against ‘foreign interference’