The Iraqi military said Thursday it had deployed commanders to southern provinces to restore order, a day after anti-government protesters torched an Iranian consulate.
The military command said “an emergency unit has been set up under the supervision of the governors” to “impose security and restore order”.
“On the orders of the commander in chief of the armed forces, Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, some military commanders have been appointed to this unit to direct and control all security and military forces and assist the governors in their mission,” it said in a statement.
Earlier on Wednesday, authorities have announced curfew in the holy city of Najaf after masked assailants attacked and set fire on the Iranian consulate.
The rioters entered the compound and torched the entire consulate building late Wednesday, police and civil defense sources said.
The staff members at the Iranian consulate had been evacuated under heavy protection just before the building was set on fire, according to the Iraqi police.
According to reports, nearly 50 security forces sustained injuries during the clashes with the masked assailants.
Shortly after the incident, the Iraqi authorities declared curfew in the city and closed the roads linking the city with neighboring provinces.
Iraq has been for weeks gripped by protests calling for toppling government. Demonstrators have been protesting against corruption in the country and lack of basic services.
However, protests turned to be violent with some participants vandalizing public property and opening fire on demonstrators.
Source: Agencies
