Police clash with Sunnis trying to reach mosque
Friday 15 March 2013
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EmailHundreds of protesters clashed with Iraqi police trying to prevent them from reaching the Abu Hanifa mosque in Baghdad today.
Sunni Muslims once again massed for anti-government rallies in several cities and several people were reported injured.
Baghdad officials said riot police used batons and water cannon to stop worshippers crossing a bridge leading to the mosque in Azamiyah.
Several worshippers sustained minor injuries in skirmishes at the bridge, about a mile from Abu Hanifa.
The clashes did not reach the Abu Hanifa mosque itself and the area around it was calm.
During the sermon Sunni cleric Ahmed Haasan al-Taha criticised the restriction.
"Several days ago the authorities promised us that they would provide the people free access to Abu Hanifa but, once again, government officials failed to live up to their promises," he said
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