Iraq: Anti-corruption commission sacks 1,000 civil servants

By Amir al-Saadi

BAGHDAD (AA) - Iraq's Supreme Anti-Corruption Council on Thursday dismissed 1,000 civil servants, who were convicted of public integrity crimes, amid widespread protests across the nation.

Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi chaired a meeting of the council amid ongoing protests to discuss a report concerning employees who received judicial rulings over public integrity crimes.

The sacked civil servants were convicted of a group of crimes, including "wasting public money, deliberately damaging public money, embezzlement and other integrity crimes."

Since Tuesday, protests have broken out across several Iraqi governorates demanding improvement in living conditions and an end to corruption. Security forces have opened fire on protesters to disperse them, causing mass casualties.

Iraqi authorities on Thursday imposed an indefinite curfew in Baghdad in a bid to quell the protests.

Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said the curfew will maintain public order and protect protesters from "infiltrators".

Meanwhile, Iraqi authorities also announced curfew in Dhi Qar, Maysan, Najaf and Babil provinces.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat