Iraqi corruption protesters set fire to Iran consulate

PROTESTERS stormed the Iranian consulate in the southern Iraqi city of Basra yesterday, starting a fire inside as part of ongoing demonstrations against corruption that have turned deadly in recent days.

One person was killed in clashes with security forces, raising the death toll to 11 since Monday, including three who were shot on Thursday night as protesters lobbed Molotov cocktails and set fire to a government building and offices of Shia militias in the city.

Security officials announced a citywide curfew and said they would arrest anyone found in the street.

Residents of Basra and other cities in Iraq’s oil-rich southern heartland have been protesting since July over endemic corruption, soaring joblessness and poor public services.

The violence prompted the temporary head of Iraq’s parliament to call an emergency meeting for today to discuss the snowballing protests.

The protesters shouted anti-iranian slogans before storming the consulate and setting a fire inside. They also burned an Iranian flag.