Some 30 Hurt As Protesters Storm Baghdad’s Green Zone

BagdadProtest8415MEP: At least 30 people have been wounded after clashes broke out in the Iraqi capital Baghdad as a fresh wave of reform protests called by a respected cleric turns violent.

According to local media, the protesters stormed the Green Zone and headed toward the prime minister’s office. A brief curfew was imposed on Baghdad after the Green Zone breach.

Several hundred managed to break through the manned checkpoints into the heavily secured area, and made their way towards the cabinet building. Photos circulated online of protesters posing inside official meeting rooms and the prime minister’s press office.

Iraqi security forces fired weapons in the air and used tear gas on hundreds of protesters, according to the Associated Press.  Some protesters had been wounded.

Images circulating on social media showed protesters escaping tear gas while blood was spilled on the streets and victims were being taken to hospitals.

“Infiltrators exploited our forces’ preoccupation with preparations for the Falluja battle to penetrate state institutions and cause chaos,” the military said, referring to a city 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad controlled by Islamic State (IS or Daesh) terrorist group for more than two years.

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