Iraqi protesters renew rejection of Iranian influence
Iraqi demonstrators protesting Iran’s interference
in the country's politics, as well as Qusay al-Suhail’s candidacy for prime
minister took to the streets on Sunday.
“We don’t want whoever wants the West’s approval and
sells the country. We don’t want whoever leaves the people hungry and satisfies
Iran,” protesters were heard chanting in videos posted on social media.
Officials say neighbor Iran, a key player in Iraqi
politics, wants to install al-Suhail, who served as education minister in the
government of Adel Abdel Mahdi, who tendered his administration's resignation
in November.
A number of protesters were using shoes to hit
pictures of Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commander Qassem
Soleimani and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Protesters also blocked off public buildings one by
one in Diwaniyah, a southern Iraqi city, and put up banners reading “The
country is under construction - please excuse the disruption.”
Overnight, protesters in Diwaniyah and Basra,
another southern city, had declared a “general strike.”
Sunday marked the latest deadline, already pushed
back twice by President Barham Saleh, for parliament to choose a new premier to
replace Abdel Mahdi.
Demonstrators are calling for a complete overhaul of
the regime.
The protest movement has lost momentum in recent
weeks as it has been hit by intimidation, including assassinations perpetrated
by militias, according to the UN.
But the movement appeared to regain some confidence
on Sunday.
An estimated 450 protesters have been killed and
25,000 injured since the start of the demonstrations on October 1, 2019.
