01:54Several protestors refused to hold a ceremony commemorating the second anniversary of former Iranian commander of Quds Force Qasem Soleimani’s death, in the Iraqi city of Wasit, on Saturday, leading to clashes with Soleimani's supporters.
Security forces were seen advancing to disperse the protestors. A thick black smoke burning tires was also visible.
"Communicating with any foreign state other than Iraq, as you can see, we are holding the Iraqi flag only and call for the unity and sovereignty of Iraq. Anything other than this will undermine Iraqi sovereignty. We want to implement the law," said a protestor on his refusal to hold the commemoration ceremony.
Soleimani was killed in a US airstrike at Baghdad's international airport, together with the deputy leader of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Mohammed Ali Ebrahimi, also known as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, on January 3, 2020.
The Pentagon released a statement confirming the US had carried out the airstrike at the order of then-US President Donald Trump, calling it a "decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad."
Iraq: Clashes erupt over ceremony commemorating Soleimani's death
Several protestors refused to hold a ceremony commemorating the second anniversary of former Iranian commander of Quds Force Qasem Soleimani’s death, in the Iraqi city of Wasit, on Saturday, leading to clashes with Soleimani's supporters.
Security forces were seen advancing to disperse the protestors. A thick black smoke burning tires was also visible.
"Communicating with any foreign state other than Iraq, as you can see, we are holding the Iraqi flag only and call for the unity and sovereignty of Iraq. Anything other than this will undermine Iraqi sovereignty. We want to implement the law," said a protestor on his refusal to hold the commemoration ceremony.
Soleimani was killed in a US airstrike at Baghdad's international airport, together with the deputy leader of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Mohammed Ali Ebrahimi, also known as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, on January 3, 2020.
The Pentagon released a statement confirming the US had carried out the airstrike at the order of then-US President Donald Trump, calling it a "decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad."
Several protestors refused to hold a ceremony commemorating the second anniversary of former Iranian commander of Quds Force Qasem Soleimani’s death, in the Iraqi city of Wasit, on Saturday, leading to clashes with Soleimani's supporters.
Security forces were seen advancing to disperse the protestors. A thick black smoke burning tires was also visible.
"Communicating with any foreign state other than Iraq, as you can see, we are holding the Iraqi flag only and call for the unity and sovereignty of Iraq. Anything other than this will undermine Iraqi sovereignty. We want to implement the law," said a protestor on his refusal to hold the commemoration ceremony.
Soleimani was killed in a US airstrike at Baghdad's international airport, together with the deputy leader of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Mohammed Ali Ebrahimi, also known as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, on January 3, 2020.
The Pentagon released a statement confirming the US had carried out the airstrike at the order of then-US President Donald Trump, calling it a "decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad."