New protests

Iraqis mourn slain journalist amid protests

Al-Jazeera reports (September 9^th): Hundreds of people turned out to mourn Hadi al-Mehdi, an Iraqi radio personality who was shot dead in Baghdad on the eve of a major anti-government protest.
Mourners marched with a symbolic coffin draped in an Iraqi flag from al-Mehdi's home in Karrada in central Baghdad to the city's Tahrir Square, where thousands of people had gathered for a rally calling for improved public services, a cause that al-Mehdi had supported.

Al-Mehdi was one of the leading public critics of the Iraqi authorities' corruption and incompetence, said Al Jazeera's Jane Arraf, reporting from Baghdad.

About 750 people also demonstrated in Hilla in central Iraq, chanting slogans including "These jobless people are against the failed regime".
And about 100 people protested in the central shrine city of Najaf, chanting slogans including "No, no to corruption!"
Human Rights Watch condemned Mehdi's killing in a statement: "Iraqi authorities should conduct an immediate, full and transparent investigation into the September 8, 2011, killing of Hadi al-Mehdi ... and prosecute those responsible".
Amnesty International also condemned the murder, saying authorities are not doing enough to protect journalists.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/09/20119910839180756.html