Demonstrators in several parts of Baghdad's Shiite stronghold of Sadr City burned tyres and launched fireworks towards the police amassed there, witnesses said, and shots were also heard in the area.

The interior ministry had earlier said 104 people were killed, including eight members of the security forces, and more than 6,000 wounded in anti-government demonstrations in the capital and the south of the country since Tuesday.

It was unclear if the eight protesters were included in that toll, which is the first time the ministry had announced such statistics.