Baghdad
Twelve demonstrators were killed and dozens wounded late on Friday after unidentified men attacked an anti-government protest camp in Baghdad, marking a new violent turn for the anti-government movement. The bloodshed came as the US accused Iran of “meddling” in Iraq’s turmoil and slapped sanctions on Iran-backed groups for allegedly cracking down on protesters.
Youth-dominated allies have thronged the Iraqi capital’s main protest camp in Tahrir Square since early October, denouncing the government as corrupt, inept and beholden to Iran.
There were fears this week of a potential spiral into chaos after supporters of the Hashed al-Shaabi security force flexed their muscles by flooding the square. On Friday, rallies began peacefully but veered into violence when night fell, witnesses told AFP.
