BAGHDAD, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Seven demonstrators were killed and 76 others wounded on Friday in clashes with security forces in Iraq's southern province of Dhi Qar as protests continued in the country, a local television reported.
Dozens of demonstrators took to the streets in central Nasiriyah, capital city of Dhi Qar during the day, before clashes erupted with the riot police who used water cannons, smoke and tear gas canisters and fired bullets in the air to disperse the protesters, leaving seven killed and some 76 others wounded, al-Nasiriyah satellite channel said.
With increasing deaths among the protesters in Dhi Qar in the past few days, a statement by the provincial police said on Friday that Mohammed al-Quraishi, commander of Dhi Qar provincial police, had resigned from his post.
"The resignation came in condemnation of what happened in Dhi Qar: killing dozens of demonstrators by forces from outside the province," the statement said.
In a statement on Thursday night, Adel al-Dukhaili, governor of Dhi Qar, also announced his resignation in response to the killing and wounding of dozens of protesters in Nasiriyah city.
Al-Dukhaili's statement also said many of the demonstrators in the province were killed by forces from outside the province, and the provincial authorities were not aware about the presence of such forces or their duties.
Mass demonstrations have continued in the capital Baghdad and other cities in central and southern Iraq since early October, demanding comprehensive reform, accountability for corruption, improvement of public services and job opportunities.
