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Iraq

Clashes in Iraq's Najaf kill 6 after cleric's followers storm protest camp

2020-02-06

[AlAhram] At least six people were killed in festivities in Iraq's southern city of Najaf on Wednesday after supporters of populist holy man Moqtada Tater al-Sadr
Moqtada <q>Tater</q> al-Sadr

...hereditary Iraqi holy man and leader of a political movement in Iraq. He spends most of his time in Iran, safely out of the line of fire, where he's learning to be an ayatollah. Formerly an Iranian catspaw, though lately he's gagged over some of their more outlandish antics...
stormed an anti-government protest camp, medical and security sources said.

The medical sources said at least 20 more were maimed in the violence but did not provide further details.

The security sources said that supporters of Sadr, known as blue hats for the blue caps they often wear, had tried to clear the area of anti-government protesters, who in turn tried to stop them.

Fights broke out between both groups, the blue hats threw petrol bombs at protester tents and live gunfire rang out shortly afterwards, wounding and killing six people, they said.

Sadr has at different times both supported and abandoned Iraqi protesters who demand a removal of the entire ruling elite.

He urged followers last week to help authorities bring "day to day life" back to Iraq's streets by clearing roads blocked by sit-ins and ensuring businesses and schools can reopen after months of protests in which nearly 500 people have been killed in festivities between protesters and security forces.

Sadr has also urged the blue hats to allow protests to continue.

Posted by:trailing wife

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