The Iraqi government has scrambled to appease the people demonstrating against severe power cuts during the summer heat, three months after coming into office.
Temperatures have skyrocketed in Iraq, exceeding 50 degrees Celsius, and government officials are aware that the electricity crisis has for years triggered largescale protests.
Since last week, the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has been facing the same challenges of former cabinets.
This week, it failed to avoid violence against protesters, which left three people dead and 15 injured in Baghdad, sparking severe criticism against the government despite the military spokesman for the Prime Minister denying responsibility for the deaths.
The ongoing criticism against the armed forces pushed Kadhimi to instruct security forces to protect the peaceful protesters.
Kadhimi’s media office announced in a statement that the PM held a meeting with head of the National Security Agency Abdul-Ghani Al-Asadi and Anti-Terrorism Service chief Lieutenant General Abdel-Wahab Al-Saadi to discuss the security situation in the country and how to tackle criminal gangs carrying out kidnappings and murders against the protesters.
The protests began Sunday night in Baghdad and several southern cities.
