Bahrain, Kuwait warn citizens against travel to Iraq

Iraqi riot police stand guard as protestors take part in a demonstration against state corruption, failing public services and unemployment, on October 2, 2019 in the southern city of Basra. (File/AFP)

• Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called on its citizens who are in Iraq to leave the country immediately
• Protests erupted in the Iraqi capital earlier this week in anger over corruption, unemployment and poor services

MANAMA: Bahrain and Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a travel ban on Friday to Iraq for its citizens amid protests in Baghdad, which resulted in at least 33 deaths.
The Bahraini ministry also called on its citizens who are in Iraq to keep away from the unrest and to leave the country immediately due to security concerns.

The Kuwaiti news agency Kuna cited a Foreign Ministry official as urging Kuwaiti nationals to avoid traveling to Iraq due to the demonstrations, and for those already there to leave as soon as possible, and to avoid areas where protests are held.
Protests erupted in the Iraqi capital earlier this week in anger over corruption, unemployment and poor services.
In response to the protests, Iraq’s prime minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi addressed the nation, calling on protesters to go home and saying their demands have been heard.
Iraqi security forces on Friday opened fire on dozens of protesters gathered in Baghdad for a fourth day of demonstrations, an AFP correspondent reported.

(with AFP)