Supporters of religious and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr have torched the Swedish embassy in Iraq. The country has also expelled the Swedish ambassador. Now it threatens to cut diplomatic ties altogether. Priyanka Sharma tells you more

Gravitas: Iraqi protesters torch Swedish embassy

An Iraqi anti-government activist was gunned down in the southern port city of Basra, a police officer stated on Wednesday, amid resurgent rallies demanding authorities implement <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-angry-youth-step-up-protest-at-slow-pace-of-reforms-275311">long-awaited reforms</a>.

"Civil society activist Janat Madhi, 49, was shot on Tuesday night around 11:00 pm (2000 GMT) by armed men in an SUV," a police officer said, adding that five people including at least one other local activist were wounded in the shooting.

A source at the city's forensics lab confirmed that Madhi suffered gunshot wounds. A reporter said she was part of an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/4-people-including-two-policemen-killed-as-protests-erupt-in-iraq-275553">activist group</a> giving medical care to demonstrators. The group departed the main protest camp in Basra late Tuesday, the reporter said, after which they were fired upon by unknown gunmen.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraqi-security-forces-kill-one-protester-wound-25-sources-275090">Iraqi security forces kill one protester, wound 25: Report</a>

<img alt=" A mourner cries during the funeral of Iraqi paramedic Janat Madhi Hussein" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="56eaf03c-feeb-45cf-9a94-e95f8a46b9ee" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%2864%29_1.jpg" /> 
[&nbsp;A mourner cries during the funeral of&nbsp;Janat Madhi Hussein (Courtesy: AFP) ]

The killing is the latest in a new wave of violence against Iraq's anti-regime protests, which had waned in recent weeks amid growing tensions between Baghdad's two main allies, Tehran and Washington. Demonstrators this week began ramping up pressure on authorities to implement their long-standing demands: early elections under a new voting law, an independent premier and accountability for protester deaths and corruption.

More than 460 protesters have died since the rallies first erupted in early October, fuelled by anger over graft and lack of jobs that grew into demands for systemic reform. On Monday, three protesters were killed in clashes with security forces in Baghdad and another demonstrator died on Tuesday after a tear gas canister punctured his skull.

Rights groups accuse security forces of improperly using military-grade gas canisters - which are up to 10 times heavier than those designed for use against civilians - by firing them directly at crowds rather than into the air.

Demonstrators are outraged that only a handful of security force members have been charged with excessive violence and none of the perpetrators of hit-and-run attacks has been pursued, whereas protesters have been swiftly arrested for shutting down streets with burning tyres. Blocking roads has become prevalent this week, with protesters cutting streets and national highways around Baghdad and the Shiite-majority south on Wednesday. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

An Iraqi anti-government activist was gunned down in the southern port city of Basra, a police officer stated on Wednesday, amid resurgent rallies demanding authorities implement long-awaited reforms.

An Iraqi anti-government activist was gunned down in the southern port city of Basra, a police officer stated on Wednesday, amid resurgent rallies demanding authorities implement long-awaited reforms. "Civil society activist Janat Madhi, 49, was shot on Tuesday night around 11:00 pm (2000 GMT) by armed men in an SUV," a police officer said, adding that five people including at least one other local activist were wounded in the shooting. A source at the city's forensics lab confirmed that Madhi suffered gunshot wounds. A reporter said she was part of an activist group giving medical care to demonstrators. The group departed the main protest camp in Basra late Tuesday, the reporter said, after which they were fired upon by unknown gunmen. Also Read: Iraqi security forces kill one protester, wound 25: Report [ A mourner cries during the funeral of Janat Madhi Hussein (Courtesy: AFP) ] The killing is the latest in a new wave of violence against Iraq's anti-regime protests, which had waned in recent weeks amid growing tensions between Baghdad's two main allies, Tehran and Washington. Demonstrators this week began ramping up pressure on authorities to implement their long-standing demands: early elections under a new voting law, an independent premier and accountability for protester deaths and corruption. More than 460 protesters have died since the rallies first erupted in early October, fuelled by anger over graft and lack of jobs that grew into demands for systemic reform. On Monday, three protesters were killed in clashes with security forces in Baghdad and another demonstrator died on Tuesday after a tear gas canister punctured his skull. Rights groups accuse security forces of improperly using military-grade gas canisters - which are up to 10 times heavier than those designed for use against civilians - by firing them directly at crowds rather than into the air. Demonstrators are outraged that only a handful of security force members have been charged with excessive violence and none of the perpetrators of hit-and-run attacks has been pursued, whereas protesters have been swiftly arrested for shutting down streets with burning tyres. Blocking roads has become prevalent this week, with protesters cutting streets and national highways around Baghdad and the Shiite-majority south on Wednesday.

Iraq activist shot as protesters cut roads again

As anti-government protests continue in Iraq, an activist was shot dead overnight in Baghdad.

The activist has been identified as&nbsp;Saadoun al-Luhaybi and according to a report he&nbsp;was shot in the head.

He had been taking part in youth-led demonstrations rocking Iraq since early October that have demanded the ouster of a governing class seen as corrupt, inept and beholden to Iran.&nbsp;

Protesters still occupied the streets in the city, where they have shut down most government offices and schools.

Violence also hit the southern city of Nasiriyah overnight, with two activists surviving separate attempts on their lives.

Around a dozen activists have died in targeted killings across the country, among the nearly 460 lives lost in protest-related violence over the past three months.

Demonstrators have warned that these killings, along with kidnappings and different forms of harassment, are an attempt to scare them into halting their movement.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday,&nbsp;an angry mob marched into the Green Zone and to the US embassy, outraged over American airstrikes that killed fighters from the Hashed al-Shaabi military force.

They besieged the embassy for just over 24 hours, leaving on Wednesday afternoon after an order from the Hashed.

The anti-government demonstrators who have been taking to the streets for months insist their movement is entirely unrelated to the crowds that besieged and vandalised the American mission.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

As anti-government protests continue in Iraq, an activist was shot dead overnight in Baghdad. The activist has been identified as Saadoun al-Luhaybi and according to a report he was shot in the head.

As anti-government protests continue in Iraq, an activist was shot dead overnight in Baghdad. The activist has been identified as Saadoun al-Luhaybi and according to a report he was shot in the head. He had been taking part in youth-led demonstrations rocking Iraq since early October that have demanded the ouster of a governing class seen as corrupt, inept and beholden to Iran. Protesters still occupied the streets in the city, where they have shut down most government offices and schools. Violence also hit the southern city of Nasiriyah overnight, with two activists surviving separate attempts on their lives. Around a dozen activists have died in targeted killings across the country, among the nearly 460 lives lost in protest-related violence over the past three months. Demonstrators have warned that these killings, along with kidnappings and different forms of harassment, are an attempt to scare them into halting their movement. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, an angry mob marched into the Green Zone and to the US embassy, outraged over American airstrikes that killed fighters from the Hashed al-Shaabi military force. They besieged the embassy for just over 24 hours, leaving on Wednesday afternoon after an order from the Hashed. The anti-government demonstrators who have been taking to the streets for months insist their movement is entirely unrelated to the crowds that besieged and vandalised the American mission. (With inputs from agencies)

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