Curfew imposed on Basra in Iraq when one dies in demonstrations

Iraqi protesters watch flaming official building as they protest against government and lack of basic services in Basra on September 6, 2018

A curfew was imposed Thursday night in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, as a new wave of violent protests against poor public services left one person dead and 35 wounded.

"One person was killed and 35 wounded, 24 civilians and 11 policemen," said Health Ministry spokesman Seif al-Badr, without giving further details.

The statement came as authorities announced a curfew in the city, where the local government headquarters and the offices of political organizations were on fire after further protests over the negligence of the authorities.

Basra, rich in oil, has been the epicenter of protests that have shaken Iraq since July, with anger fueled by the pollution of the water supply that has made 30,000 hospitalizations.

Eight people have been killed since Tuesday as crowds clashed with security forces and launched Molotov cocktails at the regional government headquarters.

Iraqi protesters watch flaming official building as they protest against government and lack of basic services in Basra on September 6, 2018

Thousands of protesters gathered in central Basra on Thursday after local authorities decided to abandon a curfew imposed by the central authorities in Baghdad, with the atmosphere appearing calmer than the days before.

But the fire quickly spread around the huge government complex that aroused anger, and witnesses said it had ravaged the offices of the Iraqi television channel Iraqiya.

AFP journalists also reported that the residence of the neighboring governor was on, while witnesses and sources said that fires were raging in the local offices of several political organizations.

It was unclear whether the fire had started as a result of a new attack with incendiary devices or was due to previous fires that the emergency services had failed to extinguish.

– "The government is down" –

At least 23 people have been killed in the demonstrations since they broke out in Basra on 8 July.

Human rights defenders have accused security forces of having opened fire on protesters, while the government has accused the provocateurs in the crowd and said the troops had received fire. order not to use cartridges.

Iraqi protesters waving their national flag in front of the official buildings as they demonstrate against the government and lack of basic services in Basra on September 6, 2018

"People protest and the government does not care, treats them like vandals," said Ali Saad, 25, at Thursday's rally in Basra.

"Nobody (here) is a vandal: people are fed up, so yes, they throw stones and burn tires because no one cares," he said at the press. AFP near the building littered with debris.

Ahmed Kazem, who was also present at the demonstration, urged the leaders to respond to protesters' demands "so that the situation does not degenerate".

The 42-year-old said their requests included "utilities, water, electricity and jobs".

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has been striving to defuse the anger and the authorities have pledged a multi-billion-dollar emergency plan to boost infrastructure and services in southern Iraq .

But Iraqis remain deeply skeptical as the country remains in an uncertain political state after the May elections.

Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, whose political bloc won the most seats, on Thursday called for a special parliamentary session to address protesters' concerns.

Iraqi protest against government and lack of basic services in Basra on September 6, 2018

Politicians must present "radical and immediate" solutions at the meeting or resign if they do not, he said.

Abadi replied that he was "ready to attend a parliamentary session with the ministers and officials concerned to discuss the situation and needs of the Basra province".

The prime minister is trying to retain his post in the future government by forming an alliance with Sadr, a former militia leader who called for greater political independence from Iraq vis-à-vis Iran and neighboring United States.