BAGHDAD, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called on Friday for restraint as the violent clashes between protesters and the security forces increased across Iraq.
The increasing numbers of deaths and wounded people during the four days of protests across the country is "worrying," as is the use of firearms for restoring public order, the ICRC statement said.
"The use of force by security forces must be proportionate to the situation and is an exceptional measure," said the ICRC's head of delegation in Iraq Katharina Ritz.
"In particular, firearms and live ammunition must only be used as a last resort, and to protect against an imminent threat to life," she added.
The ICRC calls on the protesters and the security forces for restraint as it monitors developments on the ground, according to the statement.
The demonstrations erupted in the capital Baghdad and in several provinces across Iraq on Tuesday over unemployment, government corruption and the lack of basic services.
The demonstration turned violent in Baghdad as clashes erupted with the police.
The protests also spread to other Iraqi provinces when hundreds of protesters attacked and burned several provincial government buildings and offices of leading political parties.
As the violent protests continued, the Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi imposed curfew in Baghdad starting from 5:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) Thursday morning.
Early on Friday morning, Abdul Mahdi called on the protesters to calm after three days of violent protests over unemployment, government corruption and the lack of basic services.
In his televised speech, Abdul Mahdi said that "your demands for reforms and the fight against corruption have reached us," promising that his government would not make "empty promises."
