Iraqi protesters stand on concrete blast walls during a protest near the building of the government office in Basra, Iraq September 5, 2018.
The Iraqi army on Wednesday blamed “unidentified gunmen” for the death of six demonstrators earlier this week in the southern Basra province.
“The protesters slain yesterday in downtown Basra were killed by unknown gunmen in a car,” army commander Jamil al-Shammari said in a statement a day after the massacre.
Al-Shammari denied reports Iraqi security forces fired on protesters outside provincial headquarters but went on to assert that the demonstrations “were not entirely peaceful in nature”.
“Security forces were surprised to find a group of demonstrators throwing Molotov cocktails, burning tires and attacking citizens,” he said.
“At one point,” al-Shammari added, “gunmen in a white vehicle killed a number of demonstrators, prompting the authorities to impose a curfew.”
Stone-throwing protesters set fire to the main provincial government building in the oil hub of Basra, Iraq's second largest city on Thursday. The highway from Basra to Baghdad was cut off by demonstrators.
Iraqi protesters torch government building in Basra
The army commander said “certain groups” -- he did not identify by name -- were “employing criminal gangs in Basra to assassinate citizens and sow strife in the city”.
Authorities in Basra on Tuesday imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in hopes of containing mounting tension after protesters stormed the provincial headquarters and clashed with security forces.
The government accused “saboteurs” among the protesters of vandalizing public property, while protesters accuse security forces of using live ammunition to disperse peaceful demonstrations.
Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday for security talks with Iraqi officials, according to Iraq’s Interior Ministry.Talks will focus on bilateral security relations between the two countries, the ministry said in a statement.The Iranian delegation includes Deputy Interior Minister for Security Affairs Hossein Zolfaghari, Border Guard Commander Brigadier General Qasem Rezaei and Interior Ministry media officer Seyed Ramazan Shojaei Kiasari.On Aug. 2017, Baghdad and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding for security cooperation.Iranian citizens feel sting of US sanctionsIran rial hits record low around 146,000 against dollar
Iranian interior minister in Iraq for security talks
On Wednesday, Iraq’s Sairoon coalition -- led by firebrand Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr -- called for the dismissal of army commanders in Basra, blaming them for the deaths.
“The government -- federal and local -- is tasked with safeguarding the lives of demonstrators and preventing the use of undue force,” leading Sairoon member Hassan al-Akouli said at a news conference in Baghdad.
He called on authorities in Basra to begin an “immediate investigation” into the recent violence.
Fresh protests erupted in Iraq’s southern province of Basra on Wednesday, one day after six protesters were killed during demonstrations against poor public utilities and high unemployment.“Hundreds of protesters gathered in Az-Zubayr city in southern Basra to denounce government’s economic policies,” Hani Abdul Hussein, a protester, told Anadolu Agency.“Demonstrators are calling for halting the use of fire against protests demanding the provision of services and job opportunities,” he said.Abdul Hussein warned that “people might eventually resort to defend themselves”.On Tuesday, six demonstrators were killed and more than 20 others injured by security forces during protests in Basra.Seven dead, more than 30 wounded in southern Iraq's rallySince July 9, Basra and other southern and central Shia-majority provinces have witnessed ongoing protests which have spread to capital, Baghdad.Demonstrators demand improved public services like water and electricity, more job opportunities and an end to government corruption.Roughly 80 percent of Iraq’s overall crude oil exports originate from oilfields in Basra province.For years, residents have complained that foreign nationals, rather than locals, were being employed by the domestic energy sector.They also complain of frequent power outages amid summer temperatures that often reach as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 F).
Iraqis stage fresh protests in Basra after deaths
Late Wednesday, a group of demonstrators lit up the municipality building of Basra, according to the local sources.
Sources said a group of people who broke the security siege gathered in front of the public building and set it on fire.
Since early July, Iraq’s Shia-majority southern and central provinces, especially Basra, have been rocked by popular protests, which at one point spread to the capital.
Demonstrators demand improved public services, more job opportunities and an end to perceived government corruption.
Meanwhile, negotiations remain underway over the formation of the country’s next government following May 12 parliamentary polls, results of which were disputed for several months.
Seven protesters are dead and more than 30 wounded during a rally after security forces opened fire in Iraq’s southern Basra province Tuesday.Security forces responded to protesters who staged the demonstration due to the lack of public services, according to local sources.Demonstrators set the governor's building on fire, the sources said.Basra Operations Command declared a curfew after the incidents.Roughly 80 percent of Iraq’s overall crude oil exports originate from oilfields in Basra province.For years, residents have complained that foreign nationals, rather than locals, were being employed by the domestic energy sector.They also complain of frequent power outages amid summer temperatures that often reach as high as 50 degrees Celsius (122 F).Since July 9, the province, as well as other southern and central Shia-majority provinces, have witnessed ongoing protests which have spread to capital, Baghdad.Demonstrators demand improved public services like water and electricity, more job opportunities and an end to government corruption.Iraqi parliament postpones election of assembly speakerIraq lawmakers agree to delay next meeting, speaker's election to Sept 15Israel may strike Iran targets outside Syria: Lieberman
Seven dead, more than 30 wounded in southern Iraq's rally
Iraq’s newly-elected parliament on Tuesday postponed the election of a new assembly speaker to mid-September after a number of lawmakers decided to boycott the vote.Attended by only 85 of 329 MPs, Tuesday’s session had been convened to choose a new speaker -- along with two deputies -- after the initial vote was postponed a day earlier.A Monday session -- parliament’s first of the season -- saw fierce disagreements between rival coalitions (Al-Bina and Reform Construction), both of which claimed to have attained a majority bloc in the assembly.Under Iraq’s constitution, the majority bloc in parliament has the right to draw up the country’s next government.Among the most prominent nominees for the post of speaker is Osama al-Nujaifi, a prominent Sunni politician.According to results of Iraq’s May 12 parliamentary poll, Muqtada al-Sadr's Sairoon Coalition won 54 seats, followed by a Hashd al-Shaabi-led coalition (47 seats) and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's Victory Bloc (42 seats).Within 30 days of holding its first session, parliament will elect -- by a two-thirds majority -- the country’s next president.The president will then task the majority bloc in parliament with drawing up a new government, which must be referred back to the assembly for approval.New Iraqi parliament convenes for 1st time since pollsIsrael signals it could target Iranian military assets in IraqFormer PM al-Maliki says won’t run for Iraq premiershipIraq says its territory won’t be used to attack othersIraqi protesters rally for jobs in Basra
Iraqi parliament postpones election of assembly speaker