Iraq must ‘engage seriously’ with protesters, says US.

The US embassy in Baghdad called on the Iraqi government Wednesday to engage with Iraqis demanding reform and condemned the ongoing “cycle of violence.”

“The government of Iraq and the country’s political leaders must engage seriously and urgently with Iraqi citizens who are demanding reform,” the embassy said in a statement.

“There is no path forward based on the suppression of the will of the Iraqi people.

“The short statement added that the U.S. deplored the “killing and kidnapping of unarmed protesters, threats to freedom of expression, and the cycle of violence taking place.

“Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Iraq in recent weeks, demanding sweeping political change.

The protesters complain of a lack of jobs, poor basic services, and endemic corruption. Many accuse the governing elite of pillaging the oil-rich country’s wealth while many Iraqis live in poverty.

Since protests broke out on Oct. 1, security forces have repeatedly clashed with the largely leaderless movement. Some 264 protesters have been killed and 12,000 protesters and security forces injured, according to the Iraqi Human Rights Commission.

The United Nations estimates that as of Nov. 4 at least 254 people were killed and thousands more injured.