The Iraqi government scrambled on Thursday to curb the third day of violent anti-government protests, as people took to the streets in the capital and in a half dozen southern provinces, some throwing rocks at security forces who responded with bullets. At least 22 people were killed and hundreds were wounded, with the most violent unrest in Nasiriya, in Iraq’s south, and in Baghdad, according to the country’s Health Ministry. The outburst of public anger, largely over corruption and unemployment, was the first since the current government came to power about a year ago, with the protests more widespread than those in 2018 in Baghdad and Basra. At times on Thursday, it seemed Iraq was slipping into chaos, but after midnight Baghdad calmed as did several of the tenser provinces. Prime Minister Adil Abdul Mahdi spoke directly to the country, promising employment opportunities […]