Bericht über eine Protestbewegung in Basra. Gestern sind Schüsse gefallen.
Basra and surrounding areas have been the focus of angry demonstrations over alleged government neglect that have rocked Iraq since early July.
Residents in Iraq’s second-largest city are particularly angry over pollution of the water supply, which, they allege, has hospitalised more than 20,000 people.
On Tuesday, six demonstrators were shot dead and 20 wounded when hundreds of people gathered to mourn the death of a protester killed a day before.
The Iraqi army on Wednesday blamed „unidentified gunmen“ for the death of the six demonstrators.
Berichtet wird auch über die desolate Infrastruktur in der Region Basra:
Iraqi authorities, meanwhile, pledged to take measures to put an end to the health crisis that has ravaged the oil-rich province of Basra.
Al-Abadi announced on Tuesday that he had met legislators from Basra, who are in Baghdad for the parliament’s first session since the elections, to resolve the water pollution issue.
In July, the government announced a multibillion-dollar emergency plan for southern Iraq to revive the region’s infrastructure and services.
But protesters said they are wary of promises made by the outgoing government, even as negotiations drag on over the formation of the next administration.
Reuters berichtet, dass der Seehafen von Basra aufgrund der Proteste gesperrt ist.
Hafenarbeiter berichteten, alle Arbeiten ruhten, da der Eingang zum Hafen Umm Kasr blockiert werde und Bedienstete sowie Lkw weder auf das Gelände gelangten noch es verlassen könnten. In der Nacht hatten Demonstranten an den Zufahrten zum Hafen Barrikaden aus Reifen, Gittern und Stacheldraht errichten. Umm Kasr ist das wichtigste Einfallstor für Getreide- und Rohstoffimporte des Irak. Zudem blockierten Demonstranten die Fernstraße von Basra in die Hauptstadt Bagdad und zündeten ein Gebäude der Provinzregierung an.