At least 14 people were killed and more than 40 others wounded when gunmen in cars opened fire on a protest camp in Baghdad, Iraq, sending people running for cover in nearby mosques. Three of the people killed were police officers. The attacks came as there were stabbing incidents at Tahrir square, the center of the protest movement. As prime minister, Abdel Abdul-Mahdi resigned, at least 400 people have been killed since the protests took over Iraq on 1 October, with thousands of Iraqis marching to the streets in Baghdad and those in the predominantly Shia southern Iraq cite corruption, poor services, lack of jobs as reasons for protests and hope for an end to the political system that amassed after the 2003 US invasion. The resignation of Abdul Mahdi, who Iran had preferred to stay as prime minister, is a loss to Iran, a dominant Shia country, after protests that have angered Iraqis view as they view Iranian influence in their politics and institutions.The burning of Iran’s consulate in the holy city of Najaf, the center of Iraq’s Shia clergy, and later killings of protesters by security in southern cities allowed the way for Sistani, Head Shia Cleric, to pull back his support for Abdul Mahdi. Abdul Mahdi vowed to step down last week after Sistani implored lawmakers to rethink their support for the government following two months of anti-government protests in which security forces have killed more than 400 protestors. This is another example of social unrest and how if the government does not provide for society, especially in under-developed countries, then that will lead to widespread anger and protests to spur change to change their living conditions. Social change can be instrumental to improving conditions, but as there are many protestors being harmed and government not listening to the yearning of it's citizens, it can be deadly and lead to bigger problems.
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