ERBIL — Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr urged his country's security forces to exercise restraint in handling the "peaceful protests" which have been staged since last week near oil fields in the country’s southern provinces.
The Shi'ite leader rejected any attacks, in a statement on his Twitter account, "on oppressed protesters", as cited by Iraqi News, referring the remarks to the hundreds of Iraqi youth who have been demanding better public services and job opportunities, especially in the oil-rich city of Basra.
Sadr has also called on the demonstrators not to harm their country's public properties "which is owned by the Iraqi people and not by corrupt figures," the news agency added.
Demonstrations on Friday were expanded from Basra to other provinces of Najaf, Dhi Qar, Misan and even Baghdad, the capital city.
http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/451795
The Shi'ite leader rejected any attacks, in a statement on his Twitter account, "on oppressed protesters", as cited by Iraqi News, referring the remarks to the hundreds of Iraqi youth who have been demanding better public services and job opportunities, especially in the oil-rich city of Basra.
Sadr has also called on the demonstrators not to harm their country's public properties "which is owned by the Iraqi people and not by corrupt figures," the news agency added.
Demonstrations on Friday were expanded from Basra to other provinces of Najaf, Dhi Qar, Misan and even Baghdad, the capital city.
http://www.basnews.com/index.php/en/news/iraq/451795