Six protesters shot dead in south Iraq: health official

Six protesters were shot dead on Thursday in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah, a health official said, the deadliest incident yet in three days of nationwide demonstrations.

Another 56 people were wounded in the protest, regional health chief Abdulhussein al-Jaberi told AFP.

A total of 27 people, including two police officers, have been killed since demonstrations against unemployment and corruption erupted in Iraq on Tuesday.