Iraq: Huge demonstrations in Basra

Huge demonstrations were held in the Iraqi city of Basra on Friday, calling for public services and job opportunities.

The demonstrations were organised by the Coordination Committee for Basra Demonstrators, according to Jordan’s Addustour.com news website. One of the demonstrators, Hussein Hamidawi, said that the Coordination Committee had called for the massive demonstrations to be held near the Basra government headquarters.

Hamidawi said that the demonstrators were calling for work opportunities, public services, sacking the local government and stopping its “oppressive” crackdown on protestors. He stressed that the demonstrations would not stop unless these demands were met and the local government is sacked.

The activist noted that Basra’s security forces had killed one demonstrator and wounded others a couple of days ago.

Meanwhile, security services in the city – which is located some 550 kilometres south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad – continue to clash with the Shia militia loyal to Iraqi cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr.

The clashes erupted following the killing of five Shia militia members, after it was claimed they started a campaign of civil disobedience at Al-Sadr’s behest.

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