Protesters, who marched in several cities renewing their demands for an overhaul of Iraq’s political system and an end to corruption, were met with police repression

The protests broke out in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah over the weekend after the kidnapping of Sajjad Al-Iraqi, a prominent anti-establishment activist, who was abducted by unidentified men late on Saturday

Anti-government protests have resumed intermittently in capital Baghdad and few other Iraqi cities due to regular power outages afflicting ordinary citizens during this time of intense summer 

The protesters are also asking for a political transformation and fresh elections.

The protesters reiterated the demands from when the anti-government agitation began in October 2019. They took place despite the new prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi making conciliatory gestures and promising to address their demands

Adnan Al-Zurfi presented his proposed government to the Iraqi parliament which will debate and vote on its ratification. However, his nomination has been opposed by major Shia blocks, including the Fateh bloc and the Sairoon alliance

The decision comes a day after Mahdi’s successor and prime minister designate Mohammad Tawfiq Allawi resigned, creating a vacuum in the political leadership

The vote of confidence for the new government in Iraq will now take place on February 29, Saturday, to approve the cabinet proposed by prime minister-designate Mohammed Allawi

The protests took place after well-known Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for gender segregation at the anti-government protests