Security forces have opened fire on protesters in the Iraqi capital Baghdad and several cities in the south of the country. Nine people were killed and dozens of others wounded. In the southern city of Nassiriya, security forces used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse the protesters who had gathered on three key bridges. Anti-government protests erupted in early October over corruption and inequality. Some media reports say nearly 340 people have been killed in the protests so far, but Iraqi officials put the death toll at 111.