Iraqi governor of al-Samawah removed over riots

The Iraqi governor of al-Samawah, south Iraq, was removed after riots which resulted in killing one persons and leaving scores wounded. The governorate council decided to remove the governor Muhammad Ali Hosni following a vote attended by the envoy of the prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari.

Some 18 members voted in favor of the decision with one opposed, and five abstained.

For its part, the group of the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader announced continued demonstrations in al-Samawah "until living conditions are improved in the city" where cautious calm prevails, despite the fact that gunmen and the police are deployed in the city.

Al-Basra, south Iraq, also witnessed great tension as gunmen belonging to two Shiite groups took the streets of the city following one attack at one police center, and this resulted in the escape of four prisoners.