Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Iraqi Leaders Seek Talks with Demonstrators to Diffuse Protests

Edward Yeranian

   Minor protests were reported Monday in parts of the capital, Baghdad,
   and elsewhere across the country, as Iraq's political leaders tried to
   head off further bloody clashes between security forces and crowds of
   mostly young demonstrators.

   Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said he was pulling military units out
   of Baghdad's mostly Shi'ite Sadr City and replacing them with units of
   the country's national police, after over a dozen demonstrators were
   killed during the past 48 hours.

   Mahdi called on protesters to discuss their demands, saying that the
   country's leaders are ready to talk to those who represent them if they
   come forward. He saidhis government is discussing demands that it has
   received, and that he is ready to talk to the protesters himself,
   unarmed.

.