Iraq: Buildings Torched as Protests Continue in Basra

Government buildings were the target of vandalism as more violence erupts during protests in the Iraqi city of Basra. “The targeting of diplomatic missions is unacceptable and detrimental to the interests of Iraq,” said ministry spokesman Ahmed Mahjoub. 

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Protesters reportedly storm several buildings, including the Iranian consulate, and set them ablaze over a row involving accusations of political interference by neighboring Iran.

According to state media, Iranian spokesman for the foreign ministry, Bahram Qassemi, stated that the Iraq government is to be blamed for failure to secure the embassy. The official also remarked that their neighbor is charged to “identify and punish the attackers quickly.”

Several other governments, including the United States and Russia, have consulates in Basra. 

The U.S. State Department denounced the violence against the diplomatic missions and urged “all parties, including security forces and protesters, to uphold the right of peaceful protest and to protect diplomats and their facilities.”

Since Thursday, protesters have shut Iraq’s only major seaport at Umm Qasr, 60 kilometers south of Basra. 

The protesters are demonstrating against electricity outages, low employment and the lack of basic public services - such as clean water - as well as entrenched corruption, Reuters previously reported. A polluted water supply that left 30,000 people recently hospitalized.

This is the second month of protests in Basra, which is one of Iraq’s oil-wealthy cities, that has resulted in the deaths and injuries of several people.

Iraq’s national security council met on Friday to discuss the unrest and announce an investigation into casualties at the protests.

Security officials imposed a citywide curfew in Basra, warning that "anyone present in the street" would be detained.