Armed factions are shooting hunting rifles loaded with birdshot at peaceful protesters in Baghdad, the United Nations has warned, and urged Iraqi authorities to hold those responsible for the violence to account.

Nearly 500 people have died since October after security forces and affiliated armed groups used deadly force at rallies that erupted across the country against endemic corruption and foreign interference – mainly by Iran and the US.

Last year Amnesty International said that police were firing live ammunition and military-grade teargas canisters – which can pierce skulls – into crowds, killing people.

The group verified several gruesome videos of teargas attacks filmed in Baghdad’s main protest point Tahrir Square.

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said it had now received credible evidence of protesters being targeted with hunting rifles, stones and firebombs on the nights of 14-16 February, leading to at least 50 injuries.

Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Show all 17 1 /17 Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi protesters take cover behind a barricade on Al-Jumhuriya Bridge during an anti-government demonstration in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on 25 October, 2019. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Protesters push down concrete walls during a protest over corruption, lack of jobs, and poor services, in Baghdad. Reuters Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Anti-government protesters try to break into the provincial council building during a demonstration in Basra. AP Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi women protesters march with national flags during an anti-government demonstration in the central holy shrine city of Najaf. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire An Iraqi protester uses a mobile phone to take a selfie photo with an army soldier standing atop a humvee during a demonstration outside the local government headquarters in the southern city of Basra. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi protesters gather during an anti-government demonstration at the burning local government headquarters in Nasiriyah, the capital of Iraq's southern province of Dhi Qar. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi protesters wave a national flag as they stand atop the gatehouse to the local government headquarters in the southern city of Basra. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire An Iraqi protester throws back a tear gas canister fired by security forces amid clashes during an anti-government demonstration in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi protesters carry away an injured protester following clashes during an anti-government demonstration in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi security forces stand guard on Al-Jumhuriya Bridge during an anti-government demonstration in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Anti-government protesters gather in Tahrir Square during a demonstration in central Baghdad. AP Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire The burning local government headquarters in Nasiriyah, the capital of Iraq's southern province of Dhi Qar. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Protesters take cover behind a concrete barricade during a demonstration in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi paramedics help injured protesters in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Iraqi protesters gather in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire An Iraqi protester takes cover between concrete barricades in Baghdad. AFP/Getty Iraq protests: Death toll soars as live rounds and tear gasfire Protesters take cover from teargas canisters fired by security forces in Baghdad. AFP/Getty

At least 150 people were injured in the Shia Muslim holy city of Karbala in January alone due to similar tactics, UNAMI added in a statement.

“The continued pattern of the use of excessive force, with ambiguously identified armed groups and unclear loyalties, is a grave security concern that must be tackled urgently and decisively. Peaceful protesters should be protected at all times,” said Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, special representative of the UN secretary-general for Iraq.

There was no immediate comment from Iraqi authorities.

However, Iraq’s army spokesperson Abdul Karim Khalaf, separately told local media that “protesting is a right guaranteed by the constitution and the law”.

He said there were no plans to forcibly end ongoing anti-government protests even after the new prime minister Mohammed Tawfiq Allawi forms a new cabinet.

Mr Allawi, the country’s former minister of communication, was nominated as the new premier on 1 February, three months after his predecessor Adil Abdul-Mahdi resigned in November amid the unrest.

Mr Allawi has been publicly endorsed by former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki and influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr but many protesters just see him as another example of the political elite they have been protesting against.

The prime minister initially called on protesters to continue their demonstrations but later called on them to resolve their differences to avoid dragging Iraq “into the abyss”.

He is expected to announce his cabinet line-up this week.

Iraq has been rocked by four months of protests.

At least nine people were wounded on Monday in Baghdad during renewed clashes between protesters and security forces, police sources said.

Two were wounded because of birdshot and the rest suffered teargas-related injuries.

Protesters have chiefly rallied against the corrupt ruling elite and also foreign interference in the country, that has in recent months become the battleground of a conflict between the US and Iran.

On 3 January a US drone strike in Baghdad killed Iran’s most powerful general, Qassem Soleimani, the force behind many Iran-affiliated paramilitary groups in Iraq and Syria.

A retaliatory Iranian missile attack struck Iraq’s Ain al-Asad airbase days later injuring dozens of US service members who were stationed there.