Planned Friday demonstrations raise concerns among Iraqi politicians

Source: CNN

Baghdad (CNN) -- Iraqi activists and a gamut of groups ranging from intellectuals to unemployed workers to widows are preparing for large demonstrations Friday in al-Tahrir square in central Baghdad, along with large protests in most of Iraq's provinces.

The organizers have used Facebook, Twitter and websites to circulate invitations for demonstrations on February 25, calling them the "Iraqi revolution." A Facebook page called "The Iraqi Revolution" includes still pictures and videos of previous demonstrations in Iraq and claims nearly 20,000 supporters.

On Tuesday evening, government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh and Baghdad military operation spokesman Gen. Qassim Atta held a joint news conference regarding the planned demonstrations.

"The Iraqi government welcomes any demonstration by Iraqi people as long as it's a peaceful demonstration," said Al-Dabbagh.

However Atta warned Friday's protesters that there could be possible attacks against them. "Based on our intelligence information, al-Qaeda terrorists, former Baathists and other terrorist groups are planning to attack protesters on Friday by car bombs, suicide bombers and pistols equipped with silencers," Atta said in the news conference, which was broadcast on Iraqiya state television.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/02/22/iraq.protests.friday/index.html?hpt=T2

The Middle East will be burning for decades.

The structure imposed by the West is collapsing.

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