An Iraqi protestor has been filmed with a lion on a chain, during an anti-government demonstration.

The giant cat is seen wearing a collar and what appears to be an Iraqi flag over its back in the bizarre clip which was likely filmed during recent clashes in the capital Bagdad.

Some commenters say they believe the lion was deployed to ward off police dogs used by security forces to keep demonstrations in check.

At one point the lion takes a swipe at a small group of men and then is seen resting by the road as the handler, dressed in a red t-shirt and black jeans, sits down beside him.

Violent protests have erupted in Baghdad since early October driven by discontent over economic hardship and corruption.

Around 320 people have died so far as demonstrators have clashed with security forces.

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Iraqi security forces killed at least four people on Thursday and wounded more than 50 as they tried to push protesters further back to their main camp in central Baghdad, police and medical sources said.

On Thursday morning, three protesters died after tear gas canisters directly struck them in the head and another died in hospital from wounds from a stun bomb fired by security forces, the sources said.

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Security forces used live rounds, rubber bullets and fired tear gas canisters in a bid to disperse hundreds of protesters gathered near Tahrir Square, a Reuters cameraman said.

At least half of the wounded protesters had injuries sustained from live ammunition, police and medical sources said.

The others were taken to hospital having choked on tear gas, or were struck by rubber bullets, the sources said.

The square has been the epicentre of the country's anti-government protests for weeks.

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Security forces increased use of tear gas, rubber bullets and live fire came after two days of relative calm.

Demonstrations were also taking place in several locations in southern Iraq. Protesters on late Wednesday set fire to local officials' houses in the town of Gharraf, 25 km (15 miles) north of the southern city of Nassiriya, security sources said.

Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi's government has taken some measures to try to quell the unrest, including handouts to the poor and creating more job opportunities for college graduates.

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But it has failed to keep up with the growing demands of demonstrators who are now calling for an overhaul of Iraq's sectarian political system and the departure of its entire ruling elite.

The unrest is among the biggest and most complex challenges to the current ruling elite since it took power after the US invasion and the toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

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Since putting down an insurgency by Islamic State in 2017, Iraq has enjoyed two years of comparative stability.

But despite its oil wealth, many people live in poverty with limited access to clean water, electricity, healthcare or education.

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