1650 of Iraqi protesters who were arrested during the demonstrations were release and 66 officers were referred to trial, Cabinet Spokesman Saad al-Hadithi announced.
"Armed gangs are exploiting the current situation in Iraq to carry out kidnappings," said al-Hadithi. "The government is committed to following up the abductions that occur in Iraq as well as the prosecution of human rights violators."
On his part, Iraqi Defense Minister Najah al-Shammari said: 'There is a third party killing demonstrators in Iraq."
He added: "The Iraqi army handed the federal police the mission of protecting the demonstrators, stressing that the injuries that occurred among the demonstrators and security forces came from a third party.