Shafaq News/The anti-terrorism agency announced on Sunday the deployment of its forces in the capital, Baghdad, to protect sovereign and vital installations.

"Under the order of the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief and the head of counterterrorism agency, counterterrorism forces are deployed in some areas of Baghdad to protect sovereign and vital installations from being tampered by undisciplined elements exploiting the security forces for their preoccupation with protests and demonstrations," the agency said in a statement. ".

The anti-terrorism agency denied on Saturday sending troops to the southern province of Dhi Qar to maintain security after tense security and clashes between demonstrators and armed factions close to Iran, local media reported.

"We did not send troops to Dhi Qar province. We already have a regiment stationed there," said Sabah al-Numan, the spokesman of the agency.

"It is our duty to support the security forces to protect the sovereign and governmental installations, especially Nasiriyah prison from being tampered by undisciplined elements," he said.

"It is not the job of the counterterrorism agency to confront the demonstrators. It is our duty to fight terrorism, not to fight riots and do policing," he said.