BAGHDAD, Feb 24, 2012 (AFP) - Dozens of Iraqis demonstrated for reforms in Baghdad's Tahrir Square on Friday, on the eve of the first anniversary of mass protests in which 16 people were killed across the country last year.
Security forces had a heavy presence in the square, with soldiers armed with wooden clubs, pistols and assault rifles surrounding the area where the demonstrators were gathered.
Groups of policemen with Kalashnikov rifles were also deployed, as were various army and police vehicles mounted with machineguns.
"The demonstration is to remind the government that the February Youth (protesters) and the youth of Tahrir Square still continue to protest as long as there are demands that are not realised," said Muayid al-Tayyeb, who led chants at the protest.
"A year has passed since the protests and the government has not made any effort to realise the demands of the protesters," he said.
The demonstrators' requests include improvements in services such as electricity and fighting corruption, he said.
"But when the government faced these demands with repression, our request became new elections."
A total of 16 people died and more than 130 were wounded in clashes with police during demonstrations across Iraq on Friday, February 25 last year.
Two days later, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki gave his cabinet 100 days to improve the delivery of services to Iraq's people or face "changes," but no one was ultimately fired.
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