Protests revive in Basra Friday
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.