Shafaq News / Resigned Prime Minister , Adel Abdul Mahdi ordered on Thursday an investigation into bloody violence that left a number of demonstrators dead and wounded in the southern city of Najaf, according to the Minister of Interior ,Yassin Al-Yasiri.

In a brief statement to state television, Al-Yasiri said, "Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi ordered the formation of an investigative committee in Najaf events."

8 demonstrators were killed and 100 others were injured during the attack by supporters of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada Al-Sadr, known as "Blue Hats", against protesters who were protesting in Sadrin Square in Najaf city on Wednesday.

Sadr's supporters fired live bullets , used white weapons and batons to break up the sit-in in Najaf, informed sources told Shafaq News.

Al-Yasiri arrived Najaf on Thursday and met the security leaders there and pledged to provide protection for the demonstrators.

The events in Najaf were part of a wider campaign launched by Sadr's followers since Sunday to break up protests in Baghdad and the central and southern governorates.

This move came after Sadr ordered them to work with the security forces to remove those he called "saboteurs" , reopen roads and institutions.

Likewise, attempts to end the protests come after the demonstrators refused to assign Mohamed Tawfiq Allawi to form the next government, while the latter has the support of al-Sadr.

Hundreds have been killed and tens of thousands of demonstrators were injured since the start of unprecedented protests against the government and ruling parties early October.