Tahrir Square protesters hold their ground amidst Iraqi security force fire
Protesters have been in control of Baghdad’s Tahrir Square since a second wave of protest began on October 25.
Security forces have blocked bridges leading to the Green Zone - where government buildings are located - to stop protesters in their persistent attempts at entry.
Heavy, military grade tear-gas canisters have been fired directly at protesters - causing severe injury and even death.
Protesters respond to this brutal force by using slingshots to fire marbles at the security forces. Tuk-tuk rickshaws transport wounded protesters to hospitals brimming with the injured. Some injured protesters are being treated on the streets.
We don’t want peace from them. Do you know what do we want? We want the Green Zone. We want them to flee. We will never withdraw. We are young and we have women with us. We will never withdraw.
Protesters initially took to the streets to challenge deep socio-economic inequality in the country.
"I swear to God, if they provided us with jobs these youths would not protest. They have killed us by hunger. How is it possible that a young person needs a 2,000 IQD ($1.80) loan just to come to the protests? Everyone is like that. I have two children and don’t even own 5,000 IQD ($4)," protester Fuad Kazim said.
They now also call for a change of government and an end to foreign influence.
"All this is happening because of Maliki, Amri and Qais al-Khazali, I swear to God. This is only because of Iran-backed parties. I swear to God," said protester Murtaza Jabar.
Protesters have created a home of sorts in Tahrir Square and its vicinity.
Food of all kinds is prepared and given to protesters for free. Some have set up camp in the 14-storey 'Turkish Restaurant', a derelict building destroyed by Iraq War bombing and never returned to its former glory; others sleep on the streets.
Nearly 260 protesters have been killed and 10,000 more injured since protests began on October 1, according to official numbers.
Translation by Sarkawt Mohammed