: Iraq protests: UN chief urges to ‘de-escalate’ and rise above differences #IndiaNEWS #International Secretary-General António Guterres is “following with concern�? ongoing protests in Iraq

Iraq protests: UN chief urges to ‘de-escalate’ and rise above differences #IndiaNEWS #International
Secretary-General António Guterres is “following with concern�? ongoing protests in Iraq that have injured many people, according to his deputy spokesperson, Farhan Haq.

In a statement issued late Saturday night, the UN chief appealed to all relevant actors “to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation, avoid any further violence, and ensure the protection of peaceful protesters and State institutions�?.

Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fundamental rights – UN chief

For the second time in a week, on Saturday protesters stormed the parliament in Baghdad, breaching the high-security Green Zone and injuring more than 120 people, news media reported.
Issue at hand
Following nine months of a political deadlock that has prevented the creation of a new government, on Wednesday hundreds of people first broke into the parliament.
News reports said that the unrest has been triggered by supporters of Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr – whose block won the majority of seats last October and who opposes the nomination of a pro-Iran rival candidate for prime minister.
Respect fundamental rights
Mr. Guterres noted that “freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fundamental rights that must be respected at all timep�˂��'H�Xܙ]�KQ�[��[0��[�Y�[�X�ܜ��HX�ݙHZ�Y��[��[��ܛK��Y�XX�Y�[[�[��]�HX[��YK[�Y��X�]�H�][ۘ[�ݙ��Y[�]�[�HX�H�[]��ۈۙ��[�[��[X[��܈�Y�ܛK�]�]��[^K8��H�][Y[��ۘ�YY�