BAGHDAD — Protesters burned tires and surrounded a police station in the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriya on Saturday, a Reuters witness said, pressing their demands for sweeping reform despite the prime minister promising to resign. The city was the scene of the worst violence to hit war-weary Iraq since anti-government protests began in Baghdad on Oct. 1. The burning by demonstrators of the Iranian consulate in the southern holy city of Najaf on Wednesday escalated unrest and led to Abdul Mahdi’s resignation. Parliament has yet to make Abdul Mahdi’s resignation effective and will convene on Sunday to pass a vote of no confidence in him. However, Abdul Mahdi’s promise to quit will not satisfy protesters, who are demanding the overhaul of a political system that they say is corrupt and keeping them in poverty and without opportunity.

Source: National Post November 30, 2019 09:22 UTC