A sense of calm has returned to Iraq’s southern city of Basra after a week of violent protests over unemployment and poor public services that left at least 15 people dead. A sense of calm has returned to Iraq’s southern city of Basra after a week of violent protests over unemployment and poor public services that left at least 15 people dead. The oil-rich region and other cities in Iraq’s southern Shiite heartland have been rocked by the most serious protests in years, with residents complaining of power outages, filthy tap water and soaring unemployment. Basra is Iraq’s second-largest province and home to about 70% of the country’s proven oil reserves of 153.1 billion barrels. It is located on the Persian Gulf bordering Kuwait and Iran, and is Iraq’s only hub for oil exports.

Source: Irish Independent September 09, 2018 11:03 UTC