Five protesters died on Monday during protests in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Ali Al-Bayati, a member of the local High Commission for Human Rights reports.
Earlier, the commission reported 74 dead and more than 3.6 thousand injured since the start of the second wave of protests.
“Five demonstrators died today (Monday – ed.) In Baghdad due to suffocation and improper use of tear gas grenades,” Al-Bayati told.
He added that the death toll in Baghdad since last Friday increased to 26 people.
Demonstrators demand the resignation of the government, the fight against corruption, unemployment, and better living conditions. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abd al-Mahdi, before resuming the demonstrations, announced plans to rearrange the Cabinet and amend the election law. However, he said that the resignation of the entire government would plunge the country into chaos. Earlier, the authorities made reshuffles in the leadership of provincial security agencies, where protests flared up.