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Iraqi Forces Push Protesters Back to Main Square, Kill Five

Reuters

   BAGHDAD - Iraqi security forces killed atleast five people Saturday as
   they pushed protesters backtoward their main camp in central Baghdad
   using liveammunition, tear gas and sound bombs, police and medics said.

   The clashes wounded scores more people and put securityforces back in
   control of all except one major bridge linkingthe Iraqi capital's
   eastern residential and business districtsto government headquarters
   across the Tigris river.

   The government promised reforms aimed at ending the crisis.Prime
   Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said Saturday that politicalparties had "made
   mistakes" in their running of the country,recognized the legitimacy of
   protest to bring about politicalchange and pledged electoral reform.

   Mass protests began at Tahrir Square in Baghdad on Oct. 1
   asdemonstrators demanded jobs andservices, andrallies have swelled
   inthe capital and southern cities with calls for an overhaul ofthe
   sectarian political system.

   It is the biggest and most complex challenge in years to thepolitical
   order set up after a U.S.-led invasion that toppleddictator Saddam
   Hussein in 2003.

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