Dozens of Basra residents and activists renewed the province's weekly protest in front of the local government building calling on officials to provide services and create job opportunities at the war-devastated city.
The demands of the demonstrators include obliging security forces to comply with international laws and human rights principles, which stipulate dealing violently with the peaceful protests, activist Ali Nasser said.
Iraq’s second largest city has been rocked by demonstrations in which government offices, including the main provincial council building, have been ransacked and set alight by protesters angry about corruption.
Unrest first erupted in July over poor government services but intensified in September before dwindling in recent months.
Residents in Basra say they have been driven onto the streets by corruption and misrule that have allowed infrastructure to collapse, leaving no power or safe drinking water.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Adil Abd al-Mahdi made a tour to inspect accomplishment in several service projects, as he arrived in Basra.
Abd al-Mahdi listened to detailed explanation about the projects that will offer services to those regions. He also instructed doubling the effort to accomplish the projects soon.