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Iraqi army admits using 'excessive force' against protesters
[THEBAGHDADPOST] The Iraqi military has acknowledged for the first time that some of its troops used "excessive force" against unarmed protesters as the corpse count from six days of anti-government protestsThe statement came after at least 15 people were killed overnight in Sadr City, a densely populated Shia neighbourhood of Baghdad, where security forces fired live ammunition at crowds of demonstrators. Adel Abdel Mahdi, Iraq’s embattled prime minister, ordered the army to withdraw from Sadr City after the killings and be replaced by police units. "Excessive force outside the rules of engagement was used and we have begun to hold accountable those commanding officers who carried out these wrong acts," the military said in a statement. "Our bad" The acknowledgement came as social media was flooded with videos of Iraqi troops opening fire on unarmed demonstrators. One video appeared to show the military firing a rocket at a crowd of protesters. Related: Excessive force: 2019-10-02 One killed, 200 wounded in Iraq’s anti-government protests Excessive force: 2019-08-25 Dozens wounded, detained in West Papua crackdown Excessive force: 2019-07-23 HRW Says 4 Civilians Killed, Woman Raped by Army in Cameroon Related: Sadr City: 2019-10-03 live rounds shot at protesters in al-Sadr City Sadr City: 2019-06-22 Iraq: Civilians killed in Baghdad blast at Shia mosque Sadr City: 2019-05-10 Baghdad suicide bomber kills several civilians: Iraqi military, jacket wallah kabooms 23 in possibly the same act Related: Adel Abdel Mahdi: 2019-10-02 One killed, 200 wounded in Iraq’s anti-government protests Adel Abdel Mahdi: 2019-08-23 Iran-backed militia walks back accusation that Israel, US behind Iraq strikes Adel Abdel Mahdi: 2019-08-13 UN expert urges France to try nationals on death row in Iraq Posted by: Fred 2019-10-08 |
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