BAGHDAD, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Angry Iraqi demonstrators confronted Ukrainian army tanks and police in Kut for a second day, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.
Officials and witnesses said at least a dozen civilians and police were injured Tuesday, the fifth day of anti-government protests since Jan. 6 in southern Iraqi cities with largely Shiite Muslim populations.
The southern Shiites were systematically repressed during the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, and, until recently, largely supported the U.S.-led invasion and appointed interim government.
The southern demonstrations coincided with a growing split between U.S. officials and a prominent Shiite leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, who demanded Monday that direct elections be held soon. U.S. authorities plan to hold regional caucuses to choose a national assembly but do not want to schedule elections until mid-2005.
The protests in Kut included recently dismissed soldiers and laborers who have long been without jobs. Their anger was directed largely at local and regional officials who they said demanded bribes or were former members of Saddam's Baath Party.
