Hundreds attend anti-government protest in Baghdad

A large crowd of anti-government protesters gathered in Baghdad's Jadriyah area on Friday.

Demonstrations in Iraq have recently escalated to divert public attention back to pressing domestic issues after soaring US-Iranian tensions following the strike which killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and senior Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

At least 12 people have died since protesters intensified their campaign of civil disobedience last week by burning tires and cutting roads and rallying larger crowds to join their movement, according to figures from medical and security officials in Baghdad and Iraq's south, as well as activists.