(1 Nov 2019) Thousands of protesters continued to take to the streets of Baghdad on Friday, confronting security forces including on two bridges leading from the iconic Tahrir Square to the heavily fortified Green Zone where the government is headquartered.
This month's protests in Iraq and similar demonstrations in Lebanon are fueled by local grievances and mainly directed at political elites, but they also pose a challenge to Iran, which closely backs both governments.
Many protesters have directed their rage at Iran, which has close ties to powerful political parties and state-backed militias.
On Thursday, Iraqi President Barham Salih said he would approve early elections once a new electoral law is drafted, expressing support for the protesters but saying reforms would have to be enacted through constitutional means.
He said Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi is willing to resign once political leaders agree on a replacement.
But the process of forming a new government could take weeks or even months, and a reshuffle of the Cabinet seems unlikely to satisfy the protesters.
At least 250 people have been killed by security forces over the past month in anti-government protests.
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