BAGHDAD/SALAHUDDIN/ISTANBUL/KIRKUK (AA) - Iraqi Minister of Science & Technology Abd al-Karim al-Samarrai resigned in protest of army's intervention during public protests in Hawijah town of Kirkuk, while the incidents spread to Salahuddin city too.
Earlier in the day, Iraqi Education Minister Muhammad Tamim had resigned too to protest the army's opening fire on demonstrators which left at least 30 people dead and injured more than 100 others.
On the other hand, the incidents spread to Salahuddin city where 29 people got injured.
Iraqi Turkmen Front spokesman Ali Mehdi Sadik told AA that the army claimed it intervened because terrorists sneaked into the group of protestors and opened fire to the security forces, on the other hand, the protestors claimed that the soldiers opened fire on them.
-Death toll increased to 53 in clashes in Hawijah town of Kirkuk-
Death toll increased to 53 in Hawijah town of Iraqi city of Kirkuk where the army intervened during public protests.
Kirkuk Hospital officials told AA on Tuesday that 30 more protestors, who had been injured seriously, died at the hospital which increased the death toll from 23 to 53.
Meanwhile, the incidents spread to Salahuddin city where ten people, including seven soldiers, were killed.
Government sources do not make any statements about the casualties, while Iraqi army do not allow journalists to enter the region.
