On Friday, one protester was struck in the neck by a live round while another died after being hit with a military-grade tear gas canister in clashes with security forces, medical and police sources told AFP. A vowed enemy of US troops, Sadr had called for “a million-strong” rally but did not attend himself. Outraged parliamentarians swiftly voted all foreign forces, including 5,200 US troops helping fight the Islamic State group, should leave. Tehran seized on the US strike to insist American troops leave the region, and its Supreme National Security Council issued a statement backing Sadr’s rally on Friday. Some had feared that with all the attention on Sadr’s rally, security forces would try to clear their camp.

Source: Egypt Independent January 25, 2020 07:52 UTC