1st LD: At least 11 wounded in gunfire, tear gas to disperse demonstartion near Baghdad Green Zone

At least 11 protesters were wounded Friday in gunfire and tear gas used by security forces to disperse an anti-corruption protest by followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr outside the heavily fortified Green Zone in central the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, a security source said..

The incident occurred in the afternoon when hundreds of Sadr's followers crossed security barriers on Jamhouriyah Bridge and marched to a main gate of the Green Zone, which houses the main government offices and some foreign embassies, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Many of the demonstrator managed to break into the Green Zone despite the heavy gunfire and tear gas that let at least 11 demonstrators wounded, the source said.

The demonstrators broke into the government offices, including the compound of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, the source said, adding that the security forces are trying to prevent more protesters from entering the Green Zone and also trying to evacuate those who managed to enter.

Late last month, Sadr followers broke into the government zone and occupied the parliament building, but pulled out to give time for the political parties to agree on reforms demanded by the protesters.

A series of failed reform measures have paralyzed Iraq's parliament and the government as the country struggles to fight the Islamic State (IS) militant group, which seizes swathes of territories in northern and western Iraq. The country is also in dire need to respond to an economic crisis sparked in part by a plunge in global oil prices. Endit