Protests escalated in Iraq

NEWS DESK

Iraqi police used batons and rubber hoses to disperse about 250 protesters gathered at the main entrance to the huge oil field of Zubayr on Tuesday amid mounting tensions in southern Iraqi cities due to deteriorating public services.

A security guard was wounded in the face after protesters threw stones. Police threw sand to extinguish tires that protesters set fire to them.

Reuters quoted a security official at the protest site and said "We have orders not to fire but we also have orders not to allow anyone to influence operations in the oilfields and we will take the necessary measures to remove the demonstrators from the fields."

Since the start of the protests nine days ago, protesters have attacked government buildings and offices of political parties, while Shi'ite fighters have raided the international airport in Najaf.

Many Iraqis see Iraq's leaders not sharing the country's oil wealth. Some protesters said foreign workers were robbing them of jobs in oil companies. Three protesters were killed at the West Qurna 2 field.

Iraq is the second largest producer of oil within the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) after Saudi Arabia.

oil exports account for 95 percent of state revenues and any production disruption could seriously hurt the already faltering economy at a time when Iraq needs tens of billions of dollars for reconstruction after a three-year war on the organization of IS.

In a meeting with government officials on state television, Abbadi vowed to allocate water and electricity and create jobs in the oil-rich city of Basra, once described as the "Middle East Rifle," referring to Venice because of its network of channels.

A.H

ANHA