Masked men attack protesters in Iraq holy city

Masked gunmen opened fire at Iraqi protesters in the Shia holy city of Karbala on Tuesday, killing 18 people and wounding hundreds, security officials said, in one of the deadliest single attacks since anti-government demonstrations erupted earlier this month.

The overnight attack came as Iraqis took to the streets for a fifth straight day after a hiatus in the demonstrations that began earlier this month to protest government corruption, a lack of jobs and municipal services and other grievances. The earlier protests also saw violence against protesters, and a total of 240 people have been killed since the unrest began.

But the bloodshed in Karbala could mark a turning point because of the high death toll and because the city is a major pilgrimage site where a revered Shia figure was killed in a 7th century battle.

There were differing accounts and death tolls, and details were still emerging from the scene.

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack, and protesters said they did not know who the masked men were. The protesters said Iraqi soldiers had been stationed around the protest site but withdrew after the attackers began firing tear gas and live ammunition.

Amid a clampdown by security forces, it was difficult to piece together what exactly prompted the attack although eyewitnesses told The Associated Press that masked gunmen opened fire on the camp.

Conflicting accounts

Provincial Gov. Nassif al-Khutabi denied that any protesters were killed, but said there were some injuries among security forces.

He said videos posted online were fabricated and not from Karbala. The footage purported to show the aftermath of the attack, with fires and people running away to the sound of heavy gunfire. Al-Khutabi's description contradicted those from people who were at the scene.

An AP video showed a nighttime fire and young protesters, some of them taking video with their cellphones, as gunfire echoes. An ambulance can be seen trying to drive amid the chaos, with Iraqi security forces arriving.

The leaderless and largely spontaneous protests across Iraq have been met with bullets and tear gas by security forces from the start.

At least 73 people — not including the latest fatalities in Karbala — have been killed since anti-government demonstrations resumed Friday, while 149 were killed during the earlier wave of protests this month.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, the UN special representative to Iraq, said witness reports suggest live fire was used against demonstrators in Karbala. 

"A national dialogue is urgently needed to find prompt, meaningful responses," the UN representative said in a statement. "This vicious cycle of violence must end."

Tuesday's attack happened in Karbala's Education Square, where protesters had set up tents for their sit-in.

One of the demonstrators said they were chanting slogans when an army unit arrived and that they gave the soldiers flowers and had friendly interactions. Then tear gas canisters came spiralling into the square, fired from the streets and alleys behind the soldiers, who then withdrew.

"We saw masked men dressed all in black, and they fired live bullets toward the square," the protester said. "People fell dead and wounded right next to me. We tried to escape but when we fled into the alleys we ran into moving checkpoints set up by these forces. They arrested people and searched their phones for video of what had happened."

Another witness said hundreds of protesters were in the encampment when someone opened fire from a passing car. Then, masked gunmen in black plainclothes arrived and started shooting at the protesters, and the tents caught fire.

Both witnesses spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared reprisal. The death toll was confirmed by Iraqi security officials, also speaking anonymously, because they were not authorized to talk to reporters.

The anti-government protests in Karbala, Baghdad and cities across southern Iraq have often turned violent, with security forces opening fire and protesters torching government buildings and headquarters of Iran-backed militias.

The demonstrations have occurred in Shia-majority areas and have been directed at the Shia-dominated government and Shia political parties and militias, many of which are supported by neighbouring Iran.

In Tehran, the Foreign Ministry warned Iranians travelling to Iraq during the demonstrations and asked them to postpone their trips until further notice, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

Karbala is one of the holiest places in Shia Islam, where Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was killed in battle in the year 680, a formative event in the schism between Shia and Sunni Muslims. Hundreds of thousands of Shias flock to the city every year to commemorate his martyrdom.

The overwhelming majority of the residents in Karbala and the city's security forces are Shia.

The demonstrations are fuelled by anger at corruption, economic stagnation and poor public services. Despite its vast oil wealth, Iraq suffers from high unemployment and crumbling infrastructure, with frequent power outages that force many to rely on private generators.

The protests have grown and demonstrators are now calling for sweeping changes, not just the government's resignation. Prime Minister Adel Abdel-Mahdi has promised a government reshuffle and reforms, which the demonstrators have already rejected.

Authorities on Monday imposed a curfew from midnight to 6 a.m. local time in Baghdad, as renewed protests raged there and across the south.

A senior security official estimated that 25,000 protesters took part in the demonstration in the capital on Monday. Thousands of students joined the protests, as clashes with security forces firing tear gas killed at least three demonstrators and wounded more than 100.