Shafaq News/ Demonstrators in Diwaniya province closed on Tuesday the building of the local government , a number of departments and state institutions in continuation of the protests that swept the capital Baghdad and a number of central and southern cities.

A security source and activists told Shafaq News that the protesters closed Rafidain Bank, the right branch in Diwaniya province, and tax and retirement departments.

The protesters also closed the local government building in the province, the source and activists said.

Protesters in several predominantly Shiite cities, including Baghdad, have begun a general strike by cutting off vital roads and government departments in a move to increase pressure on the judiciary, legislative and executive authorities and political parties and ruling powers to implement the demands of the demonstrators.

In the meantime, a member of the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights  , Ali al-Bayati said in a statement today that the Commission referred many   lawsuits regarding violations of human rights during the demonstrations as a result of complaints received to the prosecution to be referred to human rights courts according to Commission Law No. 53 of 2008 / Article V.

The capital Baghdad , the central and southern Euphrates provinces are witnessing demonstrations launched since early October and resumed again on 25 of the same month in protest against the deterioration of living , service conditions, the spread of unemployment, and financial and administrative corruption in the state institutions and departments.

Demands have risen to topple the government and parliament, and the removal of all parties involved in the political process since 2003, until now after violence and repression of protesters, which left hundreds dead and thousands injured.