U.S. Department of State Spokesperson Heather Nauert
The U.S. on Friday condemned violence against diplomats in the Iraqi city of Basra, which has been gripped by protests that have turned deadly in recent days.
State Department Spokeswomen Heather Nauert said in a statement that under the Iraqi constitution, the right to peaceful protest and the duty to protect public and private property go hand in hand.
"The United States condemns violence against diplomats, including that which occurred today" in Basra, said Nauert.
The statement comes after an angry mob stormed the Iranian consulate in Basra Friday evening before setting the building alight.
Only one day earlier, demonstrators attacked several government buildings in the city, including Basra’s provincial headquarters and the state television broadcast building.
"We call on all parties, including security forces and protesters, to uphold the right of peaceful protest and to protect diplomats and their facilities," she added.
Since July 9, Iraq’s Shia-majority central and southern provinces -- especially Basra -- have been rocked by protests to demand better public services, more job opportunities and an end to government corruption.
Iraqi Interim Parliament Speaker Mohammed Ali Zaini has called on newly-elected MPs to convene an emergency assembly session on Saturday to discuss ongoing unrest in the southern Basra province.According to a parliamentary statement issued Friday, the emergency session -- to be held tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. local time -- will be attended by Prime Minister PM Haider Abadi and several government ministers.Since July 9, Iraq’s Shia-majority central and southern provinces -- especially Basra -- have been rocked by protests to demand better public services, more job opportunities and an end to government corruption.11 demonstrators slain in Iraq's Basra within weekOn Thursday evening, the authorities declared an indefinite curfew in Basra after demonstrators tried to torch several government buildings, including the provincial headquarters and a state television broadcast building.Since the protests began almost two months ago, at least 26 demonstrators have been killed in clashes with security forces, according to Iraq’s state-run Human Rights Commission.On Friday, Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s leading Shia cleric, criticized the government’s apparent inability to contain the burgeoning unrest.Iraqi authorities shut down key port Umm Qasr over Basra protests“We have asked the government -- more than once -- to deal with the situation in Basra,” Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbalai, al-Sistani's representative, said in a Friday sermon.“But we have found no to listen, as our leaders remain locked in political disputes,” he added.Parliament’s first session on Monday saw fierce disagreements between two coalitions, both of which claimed to have attained a parliamentary majority.Three protesters dead during violent unrest in Iraq's BasraAccording to Iraq’s constitution, the largest bloc in parliament has the right to form the country’s next government.At a Tuesday session attended by only 85 of 329 lawmakers, it was decided to postpone a scheduled vote for a new assembly speaker until mid-September.Baghdad's 'Green Zone' comes under mortar attack
Iraq assembly to hold emergency session on Basra unrest
The number of demonstrators killed in Iraq’s southern Basra province within the last week has risen to 11, according to local sources.Two more protestors were killed Thursday evening as demonstrations continued in Basra city, a source at the city’s general hospital -- who preferred anonymity -- told Anadolu Agency on Friday.One of the slain protesters was killed by gunfire while the second died after suffering severe burns, the source said.Iraqi authorities shut down key port Umm Qasr over Basra protestsThe hospital also received 45 people who had been injured by gunfire or teargas, the same source added.In a statement, Iraq’s state-run Human Rights Commission confirmed the death on Thursday evening of at least two protesters.Thursday evening also saw the Iraqi army’s Basra Operations Command impose an indefinite, province-wide curfew.Three protesters dead during violent unrest in Iraq's BasraThe move came after demonstrators attempted to torch several government buildings, including Basra’s provincial headquarters and the state television broadcast building.Angry protesters also targeted the offices of certain pro-Iran political parties and -- at one point -- reportedly converged on the Iranian consulate in Basra.Basra Police First Lieutenant Dhiyab Saloum al-Jaberi told Anadolu Agency on Friday that the curfew was aimed at deterring armed gangs from exploiting the chaos to carry out criminal acts.Baghdad's 'Green Zone' comes under mortar attackSince July 9, Iraq’s Shia-majority central and southern provinces -- especially Basra -- have been rocked by protests to demand better public services, more job opportunities and an end to government corruption.Since the protests began almost two months ago, at least 26 demonstrators have been killed in clashes with security forces, according to the rights commission.
11 demonstrators slain in Iraq's Basra within week
The Iraqi authorities on Friday shut the strategic Umm Qasr seaport in Iraq’s southern Basra province amid ongoing popular demonstrations in Basra city.Located on the western edge of the Al-Faw Peninsula, where Iraq’s Shatt al-Arab waterway enters the Persian Gulf, Umm Qasr -- Iraq’s only deep-water port -- port is located some 60 kilometers south of Basra city.Since July 9, Iraq’s Shia-majority central and southern provinces -- especially Basra -- have been rocked by demonstrations, which at one point spread to capital Baghdad.Three protesters dead during violent unrest in Iraq's BasraDemonstrators demand improved public utilities, more job opportunities and an end to perceived government corruption.Since the protests began, at least 26 demonstrators have been killed in clashes with security forces, according to Iraq’s state-run human rights commission.For years, Basra residents have complained that foreign nationals, rather than locals, were being employed by the domestic energy sector.Roughly 80 percent of Iraq’s total crude oil exports originate from oilfields in Basra province.Baghdad's 'Green Zone' comes under mortar attack
Iraqi authorities shut down key port Umm Qasr over Basra protests
Three protesters died during violent unrest in Iraq's Basra on Thursday, local health and security sources said.The protesters died during attacks on local government and political party buildings, the sources said, bringing the total number of dead protesters since widespread demonstrations kicked off on Monday to 10.Ten members of the security forces were also wounded, the sources said. Baghdad's 'Green Zone' comes under mortar attackIraqi officials lift planned Basra curfew minutes before it was due to startIraq army blames ‘gunmen’ for protester deaths in Basra
Three protesters dead during violent unrest in Iraq's Basra
Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone came under mortar attack, the media arm of Iraq’s defense ministry said early Friday.Three mortars landed in the zone, where foreign missions and government buildings are located, it said in a statement.There were no casualties or damage, it added.Iraqi officials lift planned Basra curfew minutes before it was due to startIraqi authorities declare city-wide curfew in Basra to quell protestsIraq army blames ‘gunmen’ for protester deaths in BasraIraqis stage fresh protests in Basra after deaths
Baghdad's 'Green Zone' comes under mortar attack