Protesters gather at the site of a gunmen attack in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. Gunmen in cars opened fire Friday in Baghdad’s Khilani square, killing and wounding scores of people. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)
OAN Newsroom
UPDATED 3:48 PM PT — Saturday, December 7, 2019
At least 20 people were killed after gunmen opened fire on anti-government protesters in Iraq. The unknown attackers raided the main protest site on Saturday in the nation’s capital of Baghdad.
130 other people were wounded on Friday in a separate clash between protesters and security forces. Overall, 400 people have been killed since the protests began back in October.
“They want to eliminate the demonstrations, even though it’s peaceful,” said one protester. “They used grenades, which led to the killings of many people.”
Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi has resigned as a result of the demonstrations, but protesters are seeking an overhaul of the country’s political system. They are calling for an end to corruption, unemployment and Iranian influence.
Iraq’s leader has agreed to resign after months of violent anti-government protests. But protesters say their fight is not over. pic.twitter.com/NWt7CqQnJF
— AJ+ (@ajplus) November 30, 2019
Iraqis gather around a crying man who lit candles by the spot where an Iraqi protester was killed Friday, at Khilani square, in Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. Gunmen in cars opened fire Friday in Baghdad’s Khilani square, killing and wounding scores of people. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
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