Iraq: A Day of Rage Begins

Today marks a Day of Rage in Iraq as thousands of Iraqis took to the streets to call for social and economic reforms and an end to corruption. Pro-change or pro-reform or anti-government protesters assembled in different points across Iraq this morning, to be faced with police brutality, media blackout and a government crackdown we have all become so familiar with by now.

Approximately 100 protesters at the Iraqi Embassy in London calling for a new democratic Government and the removal of Malaki. Image by Ian Marlow, copyright Demotix (25/02/11).

Approximately 100 protesters at the Iraqi Embassy in London calling for a new democratic Government and the removal of Malaki. Image by Ian Marlow, copyright Demotix (25/02/11).

Here is the rest of the story in a series of tweets, which talk about death and injuries, police brutality against protesters and the lack of coverage, as journalists are attacked, arrested and their equipment confiscated.

@prashantrao: Protesters in Kut, Karbala and Nasiriyah chanting, ‘Liar, Liar, Maliki’. Kut also chanting, ‘Saddam, Saddam, Nuri al-Maliki’ #Iraq #Feb25

@JomanaCNN1: protests in #Iraq today some deadly clashes in parts of the country, especially in north #Mosul &Hawija 5 ppl killed & dozens wounded #feb25

@warren_khan: 2 killed, 22 injured in Hawija; 6 injured in Sulaiman Pek 3 dead, 15 wounded in Mosul; 6 injured in Falluja #Iraq #Feb25 #protests #Reuters

@Umm_Issa: 7 people have been killed in northern #Iraq. Clashes have also broken out in Tahrir Sq between protesters & riot police #Feb25

@SerenaC13: Protests in towns and cities all over Iraq >> @ScorpiusMaximus @serenac13 Are the protests mostly in #Basra or in all cities in #Iraq #Feb25

@AsrarAnwar: Spoken to family who have said their internet has been cut off #Iraq #Feb25

@RuwaydaMustafah: Some protesters in Baghdad have posters saying we want “REFORM”. #Iraq #Feb25

@Firas_Atraqchi: Sharqiya: #Basra governor resigns, but protesters want his entire cabinet gone #feb25 #iraq

@Ulaaa_: Protester in #Baghdad “the government do not care about #Iraq or the people! They're NOT real #Iraqis, they're scared & hiding!” #Feb25

@Firas_Atraqchi: Sharqiya: MPs who came to Tahrir Square to calm protesters were met with shoes and condemnation #feb25 #iraq

@RuwaydaMustafah: Many areas have been blocked from Public access by security forces to prevent Protests gaining momentum. #Iraq #Feb25

@Yesoo1590: protestors burn the city council in Fallujah #iraq #Feb25

@Yesoo1590: Hawija was taken over by protesters and 3 police stations were burnt #Feb25#Iraq

@HusseinAlAadham: In Democracy of USA in Iraq : Journalists arrested at Jumhiriya Bridge where injured protesters have been denied assistance. #Iraq #Feb25

@Firas_Atraqchi: Reports that journalists beaten, equipment seized as they filmed protesters on Jumhuriya Bridge in #Baghdad #feb25 #iraq

@jassimalsaady: Journalists arrested at Jumhiriya Bridge where injured protesters have been denied assistance. #Iraq #Feb25

@Umm_Issa: AJE showing similar scenes to #Jan25 in #Iraq. Protesters clashing with riot police on a bridge at the moment #Feb25

@RuwaydaMustafah: Eye witnesses confirm that on Jumhuriya Bridge pro-reform protesters are being beaten by security forces. #Iraq #Feb25

@Hamzoz: Mechanisms used by the army to close the bridge again, concrete blocks #iq4c #feb25 #iraq

@AsrarAnwar: Watching protesters in #Iraq clean up their rubbish… Egypt has been a good influence on everyone =) #Egypt #Jan25 #Feb25

@HusseinAlAadham: #iraq #feb25 #maliki #revolution : Iraq protests are not being covered by Al Jazeera or any other channel that cover #tunisia or #egypt

@Firas_Atraqchi: Al Jazeera ignores #Iraq today, not even news alerts keeping up with events there #feb25

@Firas_Atraqchi: AJE doing the job that Al Jazeera appears unwilling to do in #feb25 #baghdad #iraq

@HusseinAlAadham: #iraq #feb25 #maliki : Iraqi protests saying : we don't need Electricity and water . we need FREEDOM – Iraqia official #Tv

@Ulaaa_: Not moving from the sofa or television today, watching my beautiful amazing people in #Iraq protest for their rights! #Basra #Baghdad #Feb25

@HusseinAlAadham: #iraq #feb25 #maliki : Iraqi Protests held in #London & #Cairo & #Jordan in solidarity with Iraq protests in all iraqi citeis

@aboood85: #Iraq #Feb25 to the damn elected government people have every right to protest if you have a problem with that then you should leave!

@AsrarAnwar: Differences between Iraq State TV and other news outlets about #Iraq protests is really quite funny #Feb25

@TunisiaHope: Official TV scare tactics, leader's surrealists comments, demonstrators killings: Iraq is still an arab dictature AND is occupied. #feb25

@jassimalsaady: #iraq #feb25 : #maliki Regime follow exact same steps as other ex-dictators. Did they all went to same school ?

@jassimalsaady: #iraq #feb25 : #maliki threate iraqi ppl by short msgs via cellphones to prevent them from join protests

Stay tuned for more coverage from Iraq.

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