Shafaq News / The Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert condemned on Thursday strongly condemns the violence and high number of casualties in Najaf last night. Protection of peaceful protesters should be guaranteed at all times, not when it is too late.

The United Nations Mission in Iraq, UNAMI, Twitted, saying that Plasschaert "strongly condemns the violence and the high number of victims in Najaf last night."

"The protection of peaceful protesters must be guaranteed at all times and not when it is too late," She stressed.

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.

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.