Dhi Qar governor resigns as protester death toll climbs in Nasiriyah

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Dhi Qar Governor Nathim Al-Waeli has submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, state media has reported, following bloody protests calling for his dismissal.

In his resignation, which was published by state media, Waeli said he has stepped down "to preserve the blood of the sons of Dhi Qar."

His resignation comes after seven demonstrators were killed on Friday alone, an official from Nasiriyah's health department confirmed to Rudaw English. 

The city's al-Habboubi Central Hospital was crowded with more than 100 injured protesters and members of the security forces, said Dr Haidar Hantoush. 

"There are some critical cases that we do not expect to them to make it, which may raise the number of deaths," he added.

Several other protesters have been killed this week. 

The head of the National Security Agency, Abdul Ghani al-Asadi, has been appointed interim governor, and has been directed to form a committee to investigate the violence in the province.