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January 24, 2020

Hundreds of Thousands of Iraqis March to Demand U.S. Troop Withdrawal
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In Iraq, hundreds of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of
Baghdad Friday, calling on U.S. troops to permanently withdraw from
their country. The protest came after President Trump refused an order
for a U.S. troop withdrawal by Iraq's parliament, which followed the
U.S. assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani on January 3 near
Baghdad's airport.

Today's massive protest came as Amnesty International reported security
forces have shot and killed more than 600 people since anti-government
protests erupted in October, with at least 12 killings this week alone.
Amnesty reports Iraqi authorities have routinely used live fire, tear
gas, grenades, intimidation, arrests and torture against largely
peaceful protesters in Baghdad and southern Iraqi cities as they demand
democratic reforms and the appointment of an independent prime minister.


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