The Iraqi government on Wednesday launched an emergency investigation into protests in Baghdad that left three dead and at more than 700 injured.

In a written statement, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi called for peace, telling citizens that the government had established commissions to work to meet all of the demands of the protesters.

"We do not distinguish between demonstrators exercising their peaceful constitutional rights and security forces that protect the security of the country and demonstrators. We do distinguish between the victims of demonstrators or security forces and those who intentionally cause death by shouting slogans that threaten public order and public peace," he wrote.

On Tuesday, four people were killed and scores more injured, most of them from tear gas inhalation and some by rubber bullets, in Baghdad in the first major protest against Iraq's fragile, less than year-old government.

More than 700 other people were injured in the demonstrations that took place on Tuesday, a source told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The injured include 40 security personnel, said a statement issued by the government.

Iraq's Independent High Commission for Human Rights earlier put the death toll at two, saying that around 260 people were injured in the protests.

President Barham Salih said on Twitter that the right of peaceful demonstration is guaranteed by the constitution and that Iraqi youth are expecting improvement and employment.

"It is our duty to fulfill these legitimate demands," he said.

Demonstrations erupted in Baghdad against the government led by Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi following calls by activists citing government's failure to improve the living standards of citizens and to implement its programs, according to eyewitnesses.

Protests took place also in a number of other provinces including Basra, Maysan, Dhi Qar and Al Diwaniyah.

More than 1,000 protesters had descended on the main Tahrir Square with Iraqi flags draped over their shoulders or wrapped around their foreheads.

"Those thieves robbed us!" they cried out in condemnation of the political class in Iraq, considered the 12th most corrupt country in the world by Transparency International.

Others were on the streets to protest at the lack of public services, including rampant power cuts, water shortages and unemployment, particularly among youth.

And some carried portraits of Staff Lieutenant General Abdulwahab al-Saadi, who was this week removed from his post in Iraqtarget="_blank"'>