May 20, 2011 Protests In Iraq's Tahrir Square, Baghdad

Friday May 20, 2011 saw another round of protests in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square. Besides the usual calls for jobs and services, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s 100-day deadline for the country’s ministries to improve has also become a focus. A banner was seen entitled “Title Of The Play: Corrupt Government,” which said that Maliki’s reform plan was going to be a failure, and that Maliki was a liar. Another called for the end of arbitrary arrests by the security forces. Last week, when demonstrators gathered at Tahrir Square on May 13, calls could be heard for Maliki to step down and for a technocratic government to take over. In chants and on banners Maliki is also increasingly being called “Haliki,” which means damnation or destruction. The premier’s deadline for the government to reform is going to end on June 7, and larger protests are expected then.

SOURCES

Associated Press, “Protesters chant anti-Iraqi government slogans, 5/20/11

Al-Zaman, Mutakbal, “Demonstrations In Iraq: Al-Maliki Most Corrupt in History of Iraq,” MEMRI Blog, 5/16/11

(AP)

(AP)

Chants and singing seen in Tahrir Square, May 20 (AP)

"Title Of The Play: Corrupt Government, From the Champion Of Star Liars, Nouri al-Halki, But We Must Bring To Your Attention That This Play Is A Failure, From The Start, 100 Days ..." (Great Iraqi Revolution)

"Stop The Arbitrary Arrests Immediately" (Great Iraqi Revolution)

"We Demand That The Government And Parliament Remove Those Who Conspire Against The Rights of Iraq" The person crossed out is government spokesman Ali Dabbagh (Great Iraqi Revolution)