At least 24 people have been killed in Iraq, on one of the bloodiest days since anti-government protests began last month, medics and officials say.
At least 20 people were killed when security forces opened fire to clear bridges occupied by protesters in the southern city of Nasiriya.
Another four protesters were killed on the strategic Ahrar Bridge in Baghdad.
Iraqis have been taking to the streets to demand more jobs, an end to corruption, and better public services.
Protesters also set fire to the Iranian consulate in the holy city of Najaf late on Wednesday.
The Iraqi military has announced it is setting up military “crisis cells” to quell unrest. The military command said an emergency unit had been created to “impose security and restore order”.
At least 350 people have been killed and thousands wounded since the unrest began.
The military had sent reinforcements to tackle unrest in Nasiriya, the birthplace of Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi and a hotspot for protests.
Troops used live fire and tear gas to clear sit-ins on two bridges, medics and security sources reported, with protesters responding by torching a police station.
Sources told the BBC that the demonstrators in Nasiriya were now “in control” of the situation in the city and were “chasing the police in the streets and alleys”.
Agence France-Presse, quoting Iraqi state media, said Mr Abdul Mahdi had now sacked Gen Jamil Shummary, one of the commanders sent to restore order in Nasiriya.
Live rounds were also fired at the Ahrar Bridge in Baghdad, sources said, as protesters tried to cross towards the so-called Green Zone that hosts the country’s parliament.
As well as the four who died there, more than 20 people were wounded.
Wednesday’s attack saw protesters set fire to the Iranian consulate in the city – the seat of Iraq’s Shia religious authority and the location of the revered Imam Ali shrine, where the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad is buried.
Protesters chanted “Iran out of Iraq” as flames engulfed the building.
Reports say staff at the consulate managed to flee just before protesters broke in. Iran swiftly condemned the attack and said that the Iraqi government was responsible for protecting its consulate.
This is the second attack on an Iranian consulate in Iraq this month after an office in the Shia holy city of Karbala was targeted three weeks ago.
Although Iraq’s anti-government protests have been directed mainly at the country’s political leaders, many of those taking part have also expressed anger at Iran’s influence over Iraq’s internal affairs, which has steadily grown since the US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in
2003.
Protesters accuse Iran of complicity in what they see as Iraq’s governance failure and corruption.
Mr Abdul Mahdi took office just over a year ago, promising reforms that have not materialised.
Young Iraqis angered by his failure to tackle high unemployment, endemic corruption and poor public services took to the streets of Baghdad for the first time at the beginning of October.
