More news on recent protests

Iraq: Widening Crackdown on Protests

Human Rights Watch reports (April 21^st): Kurdistan authorities should end their widening crackdown on peaceful protests in northern Iraq, Human Rights Watch said. The authorities should hold accountable those responsible for attacking protesters and journalists in Arbil and Sulaimaniya since April 17, 2011, including opening fire on demonstrators and beating them severely, Human Rights Watch said.

Human Rights Watch also called on Iraqi authorities in Baghdad to investigate the detention and torture of a protester, Alaa Nabil, and to charge or release more than two dozen activists held in a prison in Baghdad's Old Muthanna Airport. Central government and Kurdistan Regional Government authorities should revoke their recent bans on unlicensed demonstrations in Sulaimaniya province and on street protests in Baghdad, Human Rights Watch said.

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2011/04/21/iraq-widening-crackdown-protests

Iraq tensions rise as U.S. withdrawal nears

CNN reports (April 22^nd): Nearly 6,000 protesters flooded the centre of the Iraqi city of Mosul, defying a curfew imposed by military authorities seeking to control tensions tied to the looming withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.

The demonstrators demanded a rejection of any extension of the American military presence beyond the end of 2011. Although the U.S. combat mission in Iraq officially ended last year, roughly 50,000 American troops are expected to remain in the country until the end of the year to train, assist and advise Iraqi troops.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/22/iraq.u.s..demonstrations/index.html

1 dead, 44 injured as Iraqi police disperse anti-US rally

M&C reports (April 22^nd): At least one protester was killed and 44 injured when security forces fired live ammunition to disperse hundreds of protesters gathered to rally against the US presence in Iraq, according to medical sources.

Nabil al-Khayat, head of the Mosul general hospital, said he received the body of a 23-year-old man, who was shot in the head. At least 44 injured were hospitalized at the hospital including 13 tribal leaders, al-Khayat said.

'Many of those injured are in critical condition, due to severe bleeding. Also, the hospital did not receive medical supplies needed for them due to the curfew imposed in the city,' al-Khayat said.

http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1634716.php/1-dead-44-injured-as-Iraqi-police-disperse-anti-US-rally

Iraqi Kurd demo fatalities rise to 10

AFP report (April 23^rd): A 28-year-old Kurdish protester died of gunshot wounds, becoming the tenth person killed in more than two months of rallies in Iraq's northern autonomous region, a doctor said.

"Hardi Farukh, who was wounded by a bullet to the head during demonstrations on April 18 in Sulaimaniyah, died this morning," said Hawar Naqshabandi, the director of the emergency hospital in Iraqi Kurdistan's second-biggest city of Sulaimaniyah.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j67i-_8LULqhqdmY6t13973stQEg?docId=CNG.1162cc65f46ade8c93d4c3d8b3d59307.361

Sit-in demo by Falluja lawyers demanding U.S. troops departure

 Aswat al-Iraq reports (April 21^st):  Lawyers from Falluja city have announced a sit-in demonstration on Thursday, demanding the departure of the American forces from Iraq and the release of detainees, who were not convicted.

“Hundreds of Falluja Lawyers have organized a sit-in demonstration at the headquarters of the Lawyers Syndicate, demanding the departure of the U.S. forces from Iraq and the release of innocent detainees from prisons, where they spent several years of their lives without trial,” Lawyer Mohammed al-Mohammady told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

http://en.aswataliraq.info/Default1.aspx?page=article_page&id=142109&l=1