Ten die, offices burnt in protests
BASRA: Hundreds of people took to the streets of Iraq’s southern oil city Basra yesterday for a fourth day of violent protests in which residents, angry over the neglect of their city’s collapsing infrastructure, set fire to political offices.
Ten demonstrators have been killed in clashes with security forces and dozens injured since a wave of protests began on Tuesday. Tens of security forces members have also been injured, some by a hand grenade, health and security officials said.
Protesters yesterday targeted several provincial government buildings, setting the headquarters of the local government on fire, and blocked main roads in the city centre.
A protester died from burns sustained during the torching of the government headquarters, the officials said.
People attacked the offices of staterun Iraqiya TV and set fire to the headquarters of the ruling Dawa Party, the Supreme Islamic Council and the Badr Organisation, whose leaders are all vying to form Iraq’s ruling coalition. Two more protesters died during those attacks, the sources said.
Protesters also set fire to the offices of Shi’ite militia Asaib Ahl alHaq, and those of the Hikma Movement about 100km north of Basra, and stormed the house of the acting head of the provincial council.
The provincial government headquarters was engulfed in flames, local police and military sources said.
Security forces, including members of the rapid response team, were expected to be patrolling in high numbers yesterday. By nightfall, however, they were few and far between in the city centre and were not interfering heavily in protesters’ activities.
Basra security officials announced a curfew from 10.30pm local time to help quell the protests. A citywide curfew was originally planned for 3pm, but was cancelled minutes before it was due to come into force.
An Iraqi security official in Basra said they were struggling to cope.
‘‘We are still waiting for orders from the state’s highest authorities,’’ he said.
Southern Iraq, heartland of the Shi’ite majority, first erupted in unrest in July as protesters expressed rage over collapsing infrastructure, power cuts and corruption.
Residents in Basra say the water supply has become contaminated with salt.
Moqtada alSadr, whose electoral bloc came first in May’s election, called for an emergency televised session of Parliament to discuss ‘‘radical’’ solutions to the crisis in Basra.
The prime minister responded that he would be ready to attend a meeting of Parliament with the ministers and officials concerned to try to find a resolution.