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Thousands Rally in Baghdad; Tear Gas Fired

by VOA News

   Iraqi security forces have fired tear gas on thousands of protesters
   gathered in the capital.

   The demonstrators were called to Baghdad by influential Iraqi Shi'ite
   cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to demand electoral reform before elections
   later this year.

   Sadr has been a strong critic of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

   Officials say the protesters attempted to breach Baghdad's Green Zone,
   home to most of Baghdad's foreign embassies and the seat of Iraq's
   government.