BAGHDAD: The Iraqi authorities said on Sunday that the death toll from the new wave of nationwide protests over unemployment, corruption and lack of public services has risen to 74 and more than 3,600 wounded.

Ali al-Bayati, a member of the Iraqi Independent High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR), said in a statement that the clashes between the protesters and the security forces from Oct. 25 to 27 left 74 people killed.

He said that most of the deaths were caused by shooting with bullets by guards of the political parties when the protesters attacked their headquarters, in addition to the suffocation by the tear gas.

Al-Bayati also said that a total of 3,654 demonstrators and security members were wounded, mostly due to tear gas, and most of them have left hospitals.

(Agencies)