Protesters gathered
again in the southern cities, but in smaller numbers than in past weeks due to
fears of violence and mass arrests. They want the government to seriously
address a lack of jobs and services, corruption, and foreign interference. In Majar
al-Kabir, Maysan province, rioters allegedly set fire to a
judicial building; a video of the fire is circulating. Security forces also launched a security
operation in Maysan, allegedly, to arrest wanted suspects. Demonstrators gathered at the
Safwan border crossing with Kuwait and threatened to block it.
Nearly three months after the May 12 Parliamentary elections, a new
government has yet to be formed and recounts continue. Now it is coming to
light that Iraq’s Board of Supreme Audit raised concerns three
days before the election that its findings relating to the voting machines were
being disregarded. The Independent High Elections Commission had apparently
ignored the BSA’s earlier reports over the unsuitability of the chosen voting
machines.
At least seven were killed and four were wounded; eight bodies were recovered:
In Mosul, an officer was killed as he tried to defuse a bomb. Eight bodies were recovered from the rubble in Mosul.
Gunmen fired on civilians crossing a bridge in Abu Saida, killing one and wounding the other.
Two soldiers were wounded in a roadside blast in Hammam al-Alil.
A bomb wounded a civilian in Khanaqin.
An operation in Metabijh left three militants dead.
A number of casualties were reported, on both sides, during clashes in Makhmour. At least two militants were killed.
