Senior Iraqi security officer sacked after deadly Baghdad attack

An officer in charge of security in the Iraqi capitalBaghdad was replaced on Sunday, two days after an attack onanti-government protesters that witnesses said killed at least 16people.General Abdul Hussein al-Tamimi has replaced General Qaisal-Mohammedwai as chief of the government's security service BaghdadOperations, the official news agency INA reported, citing an unnamedofficial.The replacement was due to al-Mohammedwai's health, the agency addedwithout elaborating.On Friday, unknown gunmen fired from cars at anti-governmentprotesters staging a sit-in at al-Khilani Square in central Baghdad,according to witnesses.The attack was one of the deadliest since anti-government ralliesbegan in the country. Hundreds of people, mainly demonstrators, have been killed thedemonstrations that have roiled Baghdad and other parts of Iraq sinceearly October.Protesters are calling for the resignation of the government, thedissolution of parliament and an overhaul of the country's politicalsystem that has been in place since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.The demonstrations have turned violent amid accusations from rightsgroups that members of the Iraqi security forces used excessive forceagainst protesters.