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Iraq Protesters Confront Security Forces as PM-designate Presents Agenda to
Parliament

Edward Yeranian

   CAIRO - Iraqi Prime Minister-designate Adnan Zurfi presented his agenda
   Saturday to Parliament as government security forces clashed with
   protesters defying a government-imposed curfew. More than a dozen Iraqi
   police reportedly were wounded when protesters in Nasiriya threw
   gasoline bombs at police, who were firing tear gas at them.

   A long cortege of vehicles Saturday drove through the streets of the
   southern city, honking car horns to defy the curfew. Iraqi state TV had
   earlier showed security forces stopping vehicles and taking the
   temperatures of drivers to detect coronavirus cases.

   Amateur video showed Iraqi security forces shooting at dozens of
   protesters, who appeared to play cat-and-mouse with them late Friday in
   the streets of Nasiriya. Protesters appeared to light fires and throw
   gasoline bombs in response to government fire and volleys of tear gas.
   Several dozen police and protesters reportedly were injured.

   A young protester complained in an amateur video posted on social media
   that he had to wear a face mask to stop choking from the heavy rounds
   of tear gas being fired by security forces.

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