<p class="title">Iraqi security forces fired tear gas to force protesters away from Baghdad's Green Zone Saturday ahead of a planned parliament session, AFP correspondents said, a day after 42 demonstrators were killed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the capital and across the south, protesters died Friday from live rounds, wounds sustained from tear gas canisters and in fires set to government and paramilitary offices.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On Saturday morning, demonstrators tried to reach Baghdad's high-security Green Zone, where parliament is scheduled to "discuss protesters' demands, cabinet's decisions and the implementation of reforms" later in the day, according to its agenda.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Security forces fired tear gas to force protesters away from Tahrir (Liberation) Square and the adjacent Al-Jumhuriya bridge, which leads to the Green Zone, home to government offices and foreign embassies.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A first wave of protests erupted on October 1, demanding an end to corruption and unemployment before escalating to calls for an overhaul of the political system.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More than 150 people were killed, according to a government probe, most of them protesters in Baghdad who died of gunshot wounds to the head or chest.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In response, authorities have pledged a laundry list of measures including hiring drives, increased pensions and a cabinet reshuffle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">New education and health ministers were approved by parliament earlier this month, the only time it was able to reach quorum since protests began.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But protesters seemed unimpressed and called for a resumption of nationwide demonstrations on October 25.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi said he had visited protesters overnight in Tahrir, but many demonstrators have shunned the participation of mainstream politicians whom they see as trying to co-opt their movement.</p>
<p class="title">Iraqi security forces fired tear gas to force protesters away from Baghdad's Green Zone Saturday ahead of a planned parliament session, AFP correspondents said, a day after 42 demonstrators were killed.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In the capital and across the south, protesters died Friday from live rounds, wounds sustained from tear gas canisters and in fires set to government and paramilitary offices.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On Saturday morning, demonstrators tried to reach Baghdad's high-security Green Zone, where parliament is scheduled to "discuss protesters' demands, cabinet's decisions and the implementation of reforms" later in the day, according to its agenda.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Security forces fired tear gas to force protesters away from Tahrir (Liberation) Square and the adjacent Al-Jumhuriya bridge, which leads to the Green Zone, home to government offices and foreign embassies.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A first wave of protests erupted on October 1, demanding an end to corruption and unemployment before escalating to calls for an overhaul of the political system.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More than 150 people were killed, according to a government probe, most of them protesters in Baghdad who died of gunshot wounds to the head or chest.</p>.<p class="bodytext">In response, authorities have pledged a laundry list of measures including hiring drives, increased pensions and a cabinet reshuffle.</p>.<p class="bodytext">New education and health ministers were approved by parliament earlier this month, the only time it was able to reach quorum since protests began.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But protesters seemed unimpressed and called for a resumption of nationwide demonstrations on October 25.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Parliament speaker Mohammed al-Halbusi said he had visited protesters overnight in Tahrir, but many demonstrators have shunned the participation of mainstream politicians whom they see as trying to co-opt their movement.</p>