伊拉克各地城镇成千上万的民众星期五走上街头,呼吁改善公共服务,并要求政府清除腐败现象。新闻报导说,伊拉克安全部队用警棍驱散聚集在南部城市巴士拉的抗议者。

与此同时,巴格达和其它城市星期四晚上宣布了一道车辆禁止令,这意味着一些抗议者要被迫步行很远,以参加示威活动。

这是伊拉克在第二个星期五举行抗议,他们加入了波及中东和北非的反政府抗议活动。高呼着口号的示威者还聚集在摩苏尔和纳西里耶等其它城市。上个星期五,安全部队和抗议者发生冲突,导致伊拉克各地大约14人死亡。

伊拉克总理马利基对动乱作出回应,他削减了自己的工资并增加了困难户食品救济项目的经费。星期日,马利基限令内阁在100天内改进工作,否则就被罢免。

Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets in cities and towns across the country on Friday, calling for better public services and demanding the government clean up corruption. News reports say Iraqi security forces used batons to disperse protesters who rallied in the southern city of Basra. 

Meanwhile, a government ban on vehicles in Baghdad and other cities, announced late Thursday, meant some protesters were forced to walk many kilometers to reach the demonstrations. 

This is the second Friday Iraqis have protested, joining a wave of anti-government protests across the Middle East and North Africa. Chanting demonstrators massed in other cities, including Mosul and Nasiriya. Last Friday, clashes between security forces and protesters caused some 14 deaths across the nation. 

In response to the unrest, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki cut his own pay and increased funding for food programs for the needy. On Sunday, he gave his cabinet 100 days to improve or be fired.