According to Asharqia TV, the Council of Southern Iraqi Tribes issued a statement announcing the protests of Iraq’s southern cities will continue and the demonstrators’ demands has risen to the unconditional release of prisoners and the current government to stand down immediately. In its statement, the Council of Southern Tribes – Iraq called for the release of detainees and the prosecution and punishment of those who opened fire on defenseless demonstrators.

Asharqia TV added: Demonstrations are spreading city to city. While tribal and social figures are calling for the legal demands of the peaceful demonstrators to be met, the requests of the demonstrators have heightened from a protest over the lack of services and crippling power shortages to the unconditional release of prisoners being held in the central government’s prisons. Also, new slogans are being chanted in these protests calling for the current government to step aside immediately, and the urgent establishment of a new administration capable of managing the country.