VIDEO: Five killed, 30 wounded in Basra as demonstrators burn governorate office

For weeks, protesters have called for essential services to improve, including clean water and electricity, and for the government to tackle widespread corruption and high unemployment.

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – At least five protesters died on Tuesday, and 30 others were injured as people in Iraq's southern Basra took to the streets against a lack of government services in the oil-rich province.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in front of the Basra governorate office on Tuesday night and set fire to the building, despite attempts by Iraqi security forces to disperse the demonstrators using tear gas and live bullets, local sources from Basra said.

Soon after news of the deaths, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi arrived in the city as the Basra Operations Command declared a curfew in the province.

The Iraqi Prime Minister also sacked the Director of Police Department in Basra, according to local media, and has called for an investigation into the death of a protester who was killed a day earlier.

On Monday, another protester, Yasser Makki, died in hospital and six others were injured during demonstrations against poor government services and corruption. 

The demonstrations are part of protests that swept across central and southern Iraqi provinces in July. (Photo: Social media)
The demonstrations are part of protests that swept across central and southern Iraqi provinces in July. (Photo: Social media)

Frequent protests across the province has plagued Basra as security forces continue to prevent them from spreading with troops deployed in the streets, near government institutions, banks, and oilfields.

For weeks, protesters have called for essential services to improve, including clean water and electricity, and for the government to tackle widespread corruption and high unemployment.

The demonstrations are part of protests that swept across central and southern Iraqi provinces in July, which experienced chronic power shortages during the summer months and have high unemployment rates, especially among the youth.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany

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VIDEO: Five killed, 30 wounded in Basra as demonstrators burn governorate office
VIDEO: Five killed, 30 wounded in Basra as demonstrators burn governorate office
VIDEO: Five killed, 30 wounded in Basra as demonstrators burn governorate office
VIDEO: Five killed, 30 wounded in Basra as demonstrators burn governorate office
VIDEO: Five killed, 30 wounded in Basra as demonstrators burn governorate office
VIDEO: Five killed, 30 wounded in Basra as demonstrators burn governorate office
VIDEO: Five killed, 30 wounded in Basra as demonstrators burn governorate office