Iraqi police fire on protesters in Samawa [View All]

[Barrett808]

Samawa, Iraq - Hundreds of Iraqis angry at poor public services rioted in the town of Samawa, south of Baghdad, on Sunday and police opened fire on the crowd, hitting at least eight people, witnesses said.

One man appeared to have been killed, they added.

Residents of the normally calm, mainly Shi'a town burned vehicles, including a police car, just outside the governor's office and demanded his resignation, the witnesses said.

Police in riot gear held up plastic shields as protesters hurled rocks. Armed police stood on the roof of the governorate.

Iraq's new Shi'a-led government took power in January elections promising to end guerrillas violence and restore public services. But frustrations are running high with electricity shortages and high unemployment.

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