The wave of anti-government protests is felt also in Iraq. Dozens of Iraqis gathered in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad, on Thursday, in preparation for demonstrations tomorrow to demand the provision of services. Demonstrations are expected in other regions of the country. The organizers stressed in their statements the peaceful nature of these demonstrations, warning of "infiltrators" who plan to turn the demonstrators into chaos.
One of the protesters, in Baghdad, Razzak Ali was quoted as saying "We gathered today in Tahrir Square, in order to prepare for demonstrations tomorrow (Friday) to demand the provision of services," adding that "the government does not meet our demands. We want only to be provided with services and tomorrow there will be a major gathering to deliver the Iraqi government what we look for."
"The government is required to hear the demands and work to meet them in near future," he added.
Iraqi Web sites have recently called for the unemployed, intellectuals, widows and orphans to participate in the demonstrations scheduled on Friday, 25 February in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad.
For its part, the Iraqi National Accord Movement, led by Iyad Allawi, warned in a statement Wednesday evening, the Iraqi government of full responsibility for any violations or harm to the demonstrators on Friday.
