Rudaw.net

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Public anger over the lack of basic services and high unemployment is growing in Iraq as protests that have raged in the southern province of Basra this week spread northwards on Friday.

One protester has been killed and dozens of protesters and security forces have been injured.

The death occurred in Maysan province where another 15 protesters were injured.

"The wounded protesters were treated and the dead body of the protester was received for medical testing," according to Mohammad al-Kinani, director of media relations for Maysan’s healthcare.

The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Protesters gathered in front of Maysan’s provincial council's office earlier in the day, demanding better water and electricity services.

Video shared on social media showed protesters entering the airport in Najaf. Demonstrators took over the terminal and moved onto the tarmac, causing the airport to suspend operations.

"Najaf protesters came to the street to support the demands of protesters in Basra for water and electricity services," Kazm Jlihavi, a member of the security committee of Najaf provincial council, told Rudaw.

Muqtada al-Sadr, the influential Shiite cleric whose electoral list topped polls in the May election, tweeted a request for protesters to respect public property and for security forces to not use force against demonstrators.

Protesters filmed in Nasiriyah, the capital of Dhi Qar, were chanting “Dhi Qar won’t be silent anymore” and “Iran… we don’t want you anymore.”

"On Friday morning, protest started in central Dhi Qar province. Protesters demanded water and electricity services," Hamid al-Khezri, the head of Dhi Qar provincial council, told Rudaw.

Injuries were also reported in Dhi Qar province – six protesters and 36 members of the security forces, according to Hassan Zaidi, director of police forces in the province.

In Baghdad, people shouted slogans slamming poor services, high unemployment, and government corruption.

Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani expressed his support for protesters and asked people to avoid violence.

“We can only stand with our dear citizens in their demands as we feel their great suffering,” said a Sistani aide in a rare foray into politics during a Friday sermon streamed on TV.

The protests in Basra started on Sunday, demanding jobs and better water and electricity services. Demonstrators have used burning tires to block roads. 

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visited Basra on Friday, meeting local military and security officials, as well as the head of the Basra oil company. 

He promised to “find new job opportunities.”

In the past week, protesters in Basra have blocked routes to oil fields, cut off access to the vital export centre Umm Qasr port, and threatened to shut down a border crossing with Iran.