In Baghdad, demonstrators vow to continue protesting

In Iraqi capital where Soleimani was killed, anti-government protesters who have been demonstrating for months against corruption vowed to continue their uprising after the assassination.

Militias backed by the Iranian general had been accused of targeting protesters. Hundreds of demonstrators have been killed since the protest movement started late last year, leading to the resignation of  Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.

Mohammed Al-Khafaji, a 32-year-old Baghdad resident, condemned the assassinations, calling the strikes a violation of Iraq's sovereignty. But he stressed that demonstrations will continue.

"We are still keep protesting and such things do not stop us to continue demanding our constitutional rights," Khafaji said.

For his part, Muntadher Mahdi, a protesters from the southern Maysan province, said he was not grieving for the Iranian general.

"We will keep holding the streets to get the government we want, the demands we ask for," he told MEE while preparing lunch for fellow protesters in his tent in Baghdad's Tahrir Square. 

"I am so happy after hearing about the killing of Soleimani. He was calling us 'vandalised protesters'."

Mahdi went on to accuse the Iran-backed Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU) of killing peaceful protesters "while we all holding the Iraqi flag".