Security cheif says live broadcast of friday protest restricted by insurgent plot to target protests with car bombs, explosive belts & silent weapons

Wednesday, February 23rd 2011

Security cheif says live broadcast of friday protest restricted by insurgent plot

Baghdad, Baghdad Operations Command said on Wednesday that it had received intelligence of an insurgent plot to target the February 25 protests in the Iraqi capital with car bombs, explosive belts and silent weapons, prompting a ban on vehicular access to the site of the public rally.

Command spokesman Maj. Gen. Qasim Atta said during a press conference held at the prime Minister’s headquarters that the move to ban vehicles from Tahrir Square where the protest is to take place includes TV transmission vehicles and thus prevents live broadcasts of the rally

Atta said that the security forces have been obliged to take all necessary precautions in order to protect the protestors.

“All demonstrators will be subject to inspection in all areas for their own safety,” he continued.

Atta reiterated the government’s support for “peaceful demonstrations” and called on the demonstrators to “behave responsibly” during the protests.

Denying rumors of a curfew being imposed during Friday’s events, Atta went on to warn that “the security forces will respond swiftly to any attempts to target government or civil institutions”.

Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said that all of the Iraqi ministries have been instructed to listen closely to the demands of the protestors, adding that: “The government is not concerned about the demonstration, but it is concerned about the lives of the demonstrators.”

The public rally scheduled to take place in the Iraqi capital on Friday is widely expected to be the biggest to date.

A wave of public demonstrations has swept across the Iraqi provinces over recent weeks, with protestors condemning poor public services, administrative and financial corruption, rising unemployment and generally shoddy living conditions.

The protestors are calling for the promises made by the political blocs during last year’s election campaigns to resolve these issues, to be honored.

http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/220385/