Thousands of students join Iraq protests as clashes kill 3

Thousands of students joined Iraq's anti-government protests on Monday, as clashes with security forces firing tear gas canisters killed at least three demonstrators and wounded more than 100.

The students skipped classes at several universities and secondary schools in Baghdad and across Iraq's majority-Shiasouth on Monday to take part in the protests, despite the government ordering schools and universities to operate normally.

One of those killed was a 22-year-old female medical student, the first woman to be killed since the protests began earlier this month. Seventeen students were among the wounded.

Authorities later announced a curfew from midnight to 6 a.m. in the capital, as renewed protests there and across the south raged for a fourth day. A senior security official estimated that 25,000 protesters took part in the demonstration in the capital.

The demonstrations are fuelled by anger at corruption, economic stagnation and poor public services. Despite its vast oil wealth, Iraq suffers from high unemployment and crumbling infrastructure, with frequent power outages that force many to rely on private generators.

On Monday, parliament voted to cancel all privileges and bonuses for the president, the prime minister, the Cabinet, parliament members and other senior officials. But lawmakers later pointed out that the move was unlikely to be implemented because the legislature did not actually amend the law governing such matters.

WatchIraqis defy tear gas andupcoming curfew as protests stretch on:

Iraqis defy tear gas, upcoming curfew as protests stretch on

5 years ago

Duration 1:26

'No to the government, no to parties!'

In any case, the move seemed unlikely to satisfy the protesters, who are calling for far more sweeping change.

"It's a student revolution, no to the government, no to parties!" demonstrators chanted in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, the epicentreof protests. Demonstrators camped out in the squares' central roundabout and volunteers have brought them food, hoping to recreate the revolutionary atmosphere of similar rallies held across the region during and after the 2011 Arab Spring.

"We are protesting in solidarity with peaceful demonstrators against this corrupt government, the government that created divisions in Iraqi society and supported the rich at the expense of the poor," said Sajad Ali, a high school student. "We demand the resignation of this government."

Security forces have fired tear gas and stun grenades to keep protesters from crossing a main bridge leading to the Green Zone, home to government offices and embassies.

In a separate protest on Monday, one person was killed and 53 wounded after Iraqi security forces used live rounds to disperse demonstrators from the city of Kerbala, about 100 kilometres south of Baghdad.

The cause of death was a bullet to the head, a medical official said, adding that six of the wounded were in critical condition.

At least 73protesters have been killed since nationwide anti-government protests resumed on Friday, after 149 were killed during an earlier wave of protests this month.

Iraqi security and medical officials confirmed the latest casualties on Monday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media.