Protesters converge on Iraq capital (Thousands of Iraqis take to the streets across the country)

[Turborama]

Source: Al Jazeera English

Thousands of Iraqis take to the streets across the country to protest against corruption and unemployment.
Last Modified: March 04 2011 15:03 GMT

Thousands of people have converged on Baghdad's Tahrir, or Liberation, Square to protest against corruption and unemployment, despite a vehicle ban that forced many to walk for hours to the heart of the Iraqi capital.

Al Jazeera's Jane Arraf reported from Baghdad that the situation was heading towards a stand-off, as security forces demanded the protesters leave, blocking their route across a bridge leading to the Green Zone, where the government has its base.

Concrete blocks were set up by authorities on all of Baghdad's bridges ahead of the protests.

"What we're seeing here is a bit of a test, of how the government will respond when these people clearly want their demands to be heard," Arraf said.

Read more: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/03/20113492534217409.html

[elias49]

1. Well! A war well won!

:sarcasm:

[florida08]

2. apparently

they're not too happy with our installed democracy..

[No Elephants]

8. They can get in line.

[florida08]

13. lol

ain't that the truth

[dipsydoodle]

3. I searched elsewhere out of curiousity.

and needless to say sfa from the US media on the subject.

[Turborama]

6. CNN on it

Here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/03/04/iraq.protests/

The only one I could find.

[dipsydoodle]

10. They must've read our discussion

and felt suitably embarrassed. :rofl:

:hi:

[Scottybeamer70]

4. Nuttin' like

a little enforced american democracy to get 'em all riled up!
They must think they are in Wisconsin.....or somethin'.....

[No Elephants]

11. Much more likely--Tunisia and/or Egypt, Yemen, et al.

[Turborama]

5. Reuters: Iraqi forces use water cannon to disperse protests & journalists beaten by security forces)

By Aref Mohammed
BASRA, Iraq | Fri Mar 4, 2011 10:51am EST

BASRA, Iraq (Reuters) -Iraqi security forces used water cannon and batons to disperse protesters in the southern oil hub of Basra on Friday as thousands of Iraqis rallied around the nation against corrupt officials and poor basic services.

Demonstrations against a shortage of jobs, electricity, water and other basic services have been rising as Iraqis, inspired by protests around the Arab world, demand reforms from a formed in December after elections last year.

In central Basra around 700 protesters near the provincial council building were forcibly removed by Iraqi soldiers and police after they refused to stop demonstrating.

A Reuters reporter at the scene said some journalists were also beaten by security forces. A vehicle ban was in effect.

Full article with pictures: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/04/us-iraq-protests-idUSTRE7233UK20110304

[jwirr]

7. Once again it is scarcity of commodities that is triggering this.

[No Elephants]

9. Or a surplus of population--and you know how we can fix that without damaging the holy bottom line.

Win win.

[jwirr]

12. Hasn't that been part of the war strategy? A little genocide here, a

little there? :sarcasm: