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Four Sadr supporters killed in Iraq's Najaf during anti-corruption mall protest
Hospital and local staff in the southern Iraqi city said four people died after a demonstration turned violent when a mall was burned down overnight, AP reported on Thursday.
Najaf province's security command arrested five mall guards who had shot at the demonstrators, while at least 17 people were wounded and are being treated at the city's Hakim Hospital.
Guards at the Bashir Mall opened fire on a crowd of supporters of populist Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who held a demonstration against his former aide, Kazm al-Issawi, close to the shopping centre.
Sadr had earlier condemned corruption in the country and fired al-Issawi over alleged graft.
Sadr's office said the demonstrators were protesting against corruption, which is rampant in the country.
Huge protests have been held in southern cities and the capital Baghdad against graft and a lack of basic services such as electricity and clean water.
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