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Tens Of Thousands Rally Against Iraqi Prime Minister

February 01, 2013

Tens of thousands of Sunni Muslims have rallied in Iraq in another show of discontent with the Shi'ite-led government.

The protests took place in Fallujah and Ramadi, blocking a major highway in western Iraq.

Last week, five protesters and two soldiers were killed in clashes in Fallujah.

Demonstrations have swept Sunni-majority areas of Iraq for the past weeks.

Protesters say Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government persecutes the country's Sunni Muslim minority.

They are calling for the release of prisoners and the reform of antiterror legislation.

In a concession to the protesters, Maliki has released hundreds of detainees.

An Al-Qaida-affiliated group, the Islamic State of Iraq, has called on Sunni Muslims to take up arms to restore "dignity and freedom."

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/iraq-sunni-protests/24890667.html

Copyright (c) 2013. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.