A resignation that does not calm the Iraqi street. In the wake of the announcement of the impending departure of Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, many Iraqis demonstrated Saturday (November 30th) and again blocked roads in Baghdad and in the south of the country.
The protest movement started on the 1st October. Protesters protest against their political leaders, whom they consider incompetent and corrupt, and against the decay of public services. In nearly two months, more than 420 Iraqis – mostly protesters – have been killed and thousands wounded in the violence, according to a report compiled by Agence France-Presse (AFP) from medical and police sources.
If it were demanded, the Prime Minister's resignation is far from enough for the protesters. "We continue the movement, the resignation of Adel Abdel Mahdi is only the first step, it will then be necessary to sack and judge all the corrupt", told AFP a protester in Al-Diwaniya (south). "We will not leave until we have jobs, water, electricity", added another to Baghdad, where the clashes have made about ten wounded.
It will also be necessary, adds a third, to obtain reparation for the shed blood. "We could go to civil war, the families will not be silent, the tribes either. "
At least 25 injured in Nasiriyah
In Nassiriya, home town of Prime Minister bruised by violence, thousands of protesters took to the streets to demand "The fall of the regime".
Heavy black smoke rises above the bridges spanning the Euphrates in the city that borders the ruins of ancient Ur after protesters burned tires. New clashes have left at least 25 injured, according to doctors.
On Thursday and Friday, in Nassiriya and the holy Shiite city of Najaf, also in the south, 67 people were killed by police and plainclothes men defending, according to witnesses, the siege of a party.
Iraqis also demonstrated in Hilla and Kout in the south.
The protest movement on Friday received strong support from Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, Iraq's highest Shia religious leader, who called on Parliament to replace Abdel Mahdi's government.
To prevent the South from falling into chaos
For the angry Iraqis, it is the entire political system, set up by the United States sixteen years ago when they overthrew the dictator Saddam Hussein, and now under the control of their Iranian rival, it is necessary switch.
They want the redesign of a power based on denominational and ethnic affiliations that has fostered clientelism. And above all, a complete renewal of a political class that has evaporated in sixteen years the equivalent of twice the GDP of the country, the second producer of the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries).
While Abdel Mahdi has convened an exceptional cabinet meeting on Saturday, Parliament is due to hold a meeting on Sunday. Opposition to the Assembly called for a vote of no confidence and pro-Iran paramilitaries, the unconditional backers of the prime minister, have promised " change ".
It was after the appeal of Ayatollah Sistani, tutelary figure of politics in Iraq, Shiite majority country, that Mr. Abdel Mahdi said he was ready to leave his post. He also wanted to prevent the South from sinking into chaos, with tribal fighters armed to block police reinforcements.
In Baghdad, the Supreme Council of the Judiciary announced that "The most severe penalties" would be applied to those who killed or injured protesters, while the name of his boss, Faëq Zeidan, circulates in political circles as possible prime minister, among many others. Since the beginning of October, the authorities have accused "Unidentified shooters" the death of protesters in Nasiriyah. However, on Thursday they sacked the military commander just appointed for "Restore order".
