Iraq military acknowledges using disproportionate measures in deadly protests

In Iraq, the military admitted yesterday that it used excessive force during the deadly protests last week. In an official statement, the military said, Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi had ordered those forces to be replaced with federal police units and the intelligence services to open an investigation into the incident. It was for the first



time since protests broke out that security forces acknowledged using disproportionate measures.

The demonstrations across Baghdad and the south have spiralled into violence over the last week, with witnesses reporting security forces using water cannons, tear gas and live rounds.