Iraqi troops have killed at least four people after opening fire on Sunni protesters in Falluja today (Friday).
Thousands of members of the minority Sunni sect turned out for street protests against the Shia led government. Many Sunni Muslims in Iraq believe that the country’s terror laws are being used to unfairly target their community.
Thousands gathered after Friday prayers in the Sunni majority town of Falluja located 50km from Baghdad today, and when security forces attempted to arrest three protesters, the crowd turned on them.
According to the local hospital which casualties where taken to, a total of six protesters died in the clashes, four of whom died from gunshot wounds. The same source claimed that 52 people had been injured.
Recent weeks have seen an upsurge in violence between Sunni and Shia Muslim’s in Iraq, raising fresh fears that the country is slipping back towards the sectarian violence of the past. This latest incident will only serve to increase Sunni anger and alienation.
Iraq troops open fire on protesters by reuters
