BAGHDAD, 28 November 2020, (TON): Violence erupted on Friday between the members of the November 2019 anti-government protest movement and supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr, who had called on his followers to take to the streets in a show of force.

The death toll from clashes among rival protesters in Iraq’s southern hot spot of Nasiriya rose to eight. Strict security measures have been imposed in number of cities.

In the southern city of Nasiriya, anti-government activists accused of Muqtada al-Sadr supporters of shooting at them and torching their tents in their main gathering place of Habboubi Square.

Clashes continued and number of injured have increase to over 100.

Authorities sacked the city’s police chief, launched an investigation into the events and imposed an overnight curfew in Nasiriya.

As election scheduled for June next year, US is supporting underhand to Muqtada al-Sadr to come into power after US withdrawal.