Live

In Pictures

Gallery

Iraq: Deadly demonstrations continue in Basra

At least 27 people have been killed since the wave of protests first broke out in Basra in July.

Angry protesters stormed the Iranian consulate in the southern city of Basra. [Nabil al-Jurani/AP Photo]
Angry protesters stormed the Iranian consulate in the southern city of Basra. [Nabil al-Jurani/AP Photo]
9 Sep 2018

Basra has been rocked by protests with demonstrators setting ablaze government buildings, the Iranian consulate, and the offices of pro-Tehran militias and political parties.

Anger flared after the hospitalisation of 30,000 people who drank polluted water. Residents in the oil-rich region have for weeks complained of water and electricity shortages, corruption among officials and unemployment.

Since the wave of protests first broke out in Basra in July, with demonstrators condemning corruption and demanding jobs, at least 27 people have been killed.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he had instructed security forces to “act decisively against the acts of vandalism that accompanied the demonstrations”.

A spokesman for the consulate said all diplomats and staff had been evacuated from the building before the protesters attacked and nobody was hurt. [Essam al-Sudani/Reuters]
A spokesman for the consulate said all diplomats and staff had been evacuated from the building before the protesters attacked and nobody was hurt. [Essam al-Sudani/Reuters]
Advertisement
Iraq has been struggling to rebuild its infrastructure and economy after decades of bloody conflicts. [Nabil al-Jurani/AP Photo]
Iraq has been struggling to rebuild its infrastructure and economy after decades of bloody conflicts. [Nabil al-Jurani/AP Photo]
The wave of protests first broke out in Basra in July with demonstrators condemning corruption among Iraqi officials and demanding jobs. [Alaa al-Marjani/Reuters]
The wave of protests first broke out in Basra in July with demonstrators condemning corruption among Iraqi officials and demanding jobs. [Alaa al-Marjani/Reuters]
Prime minister al-Abadi said he had instructed security forces to "act decisively against the acts of vandalism that accompanied the demonstrations". [Nabil al-Jurani/AP Photo]
Prime minister al-Abadi said he had instructed security forces to "act decisively against the acts of vandalism that accompanied the demonstrations". [Nabil al-Jurani/AP Photo]
An ambulance belonging to Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces was burned during the protests. At least 27 people have been killed since the start of the protests in July. [Essam al-Sudani/Reuters]
An ambulance belonging to Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces was burned during the protests. At least 27 people have been killed since the start of the protests in July. [Essam al-Sudani/Reuters]
Iraqi protesters stand on concrete blast walls near a torched government office in Basra. [Alaa al-Marjani/Reuters]
Iraqi protesters stand on concrete blast walls near a torched government office in Basra. [Alaa al-Marjani/Reuters]
Advertisement
An man rides his motorcycle past the headquarters of MP Faleh al-Khazali, secretary-general of the Martyrs movement, which was set on fire by protesters in Basra. [Essam al-Sudani/Reuters]
An man rides his motorcycle past the headquarters of MP Faleh al-Khazali, secretary-general of the Martyrs movement, which was set on fire by protesters in Basra. [Essam al-Sudani/Reuters]
More from Gallery

In Pictures: Troops, riot fencing and razor wire in Washington DC

Members of the National Guard patrol near the United States Capitol building ahead of US President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, in Washington, DC. [Andrew Kelly/Reuters]

Photos: Kashmir resort sees tourists after back-to-back shutdowns

Tourists again fill Gulmarg's hotels, and ski, sledge and trek its Himalayan landscape. [Dar Yasin/AP Photo]

In Pictures: Tunisian troops quell unrest with force

Tunisian security forces fire tear gas as protesters block a street in the el-Tadamen suburb on the northwestern outskirts of Tunis. [Fethi Belaid/AFP]

In Pictures: Guatemala forces battle desperate Honduran migrants

Guatemalan police fire tear gas to disperse a caravan of thousands of migrants heading towards the US. [Johan Ordonez/AFP]
Most Read

First Lady Melania Trump releases farewell message

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will leave the White House on Wednesday [File: Evan Vucci/The Associated Press]

New videos show Wuhan during earliest days of COVID outbreak

Whom might Donald Trump pardon in final day of presidency?

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters as he walks to Air Force One upon departure on Tuesday, January 12 at Andrews Air Force Base [File/Alex Brandon/AP] (AP Photo)

Thai court hands out record 43-year jail term for insulting king

Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn looks on while greeting royalists at the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand, November 1, 2020 [File: Jorge Silva/Reuters]