Anti-government protests rage in Iraq and Lebanon

Baghdad - Four people were killed when they were struck by teargas canisters, security and medical officials said.

At least seven more Iraqi protesters were killed on Saturday in clashes with security forces in Baghdad and the southern town of Nasiriyah, while in Lebanon the army fired gunshots into the air after a clash at a protest roadblock near the northern city of Tripoli, injuring several people.
Thousands of protesters tried to reach Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, home to embassies and government offices. Security forces fired teargas as protesters tried to remove blast walls from a main bridge leading to the government district. By nightfall, the security forces had chased the protesters back to Tahrir Square, a central roundabout.
Four people were killed when they were struck by teargas canisters, security and medical officials said.
A second medical official said three protesters were shot dead by security guards when they attacked the office of a provincial official in the southern town of Nasiriyah. The town has seen especially violent protests in recent weeks and was placed under a 24-hour curfew on Friday along with the southern city of Basra.
At least 48 people have been killed since the protests resumed this week, after 149 were killed in a wave of demonstrations earlier this month. The spontaneous, leaderless protests are directed at the political establishment that came to power after the 2003 US-led invasion, which many blame for spiraling corruption and poor public services.
Demonstrators across Lebanon blocked roads and took to the streets on Saturday for a 10th consecutive day, defying what they said were attempts by Hezbollah to defuse their movement and despite tensions with the army.
The demonstrators - who have thronged Lebanese towns and cities since October 17 - are demanding the removal of the entire political class, accusing many across different parties of systematic corruption.

• MENA