Incident

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Incident

1 dead, 55 wounded during protests eastern Iraq

16 February 2011 21:15 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. A least one person was shot dead and 55 others -- including four police -- were wounded Wednesday when private security guards and Iraqi security forces opened fire on hundreds of demonstrators outside the governor’s office in the eastern city of Kut, health officials said, APA reports quoting CNN.
Police officials in Kut, about 63 miles (110 km) south of Baghdad, tell CNN that more than 1,000 demonstrators demanded the resignation of Wasit’s provincial governor, Latif Hamed, accusing him of corruption. Some of the protesters tried to force their way inside the governor’s office, prompting private security guards to shoot at them, police said.
After the shooting, the situation escalated rapidly and the protesters became more angry, Kut police said.
Dozens of protesters stormed the governor’s office again and destroyed furniture inside, then set the building on fire. Another group of demonstrators went to the governor’s house and set it on fire.
Kut police tell CNN that Hamed was not in the city when protesters attacked his office and his house.
Another group of protesters stormed the provincial council building and set it on fire, forcing some members of the council to flee the building from a rear gate, police said.
Initially, Iraqi security forces used water cannons and batons on the crowds of demonstrators but later security forces opened fire on the protesters when they started attacking government buildings.
Health officials said the four Iraqi police officers were wounded when protesters hurled stones on them. A few hours later, more Iraqi army troops entered the city and imposed a full curfew.
On February 3, dozens of protesters demonstrated in Kut against cuts in basic services, unemployment, corruption and demanded improved food rations in the predominantly Shiite Wasit province. The protesters also demanded the resignation of Hamed.