Al Jazeera: Iraq: Protests rage over poor public services, unemployment
Demonstrations began in the southern city of Basra over high unemployment and a lack of basic services.
Iraq has placed its security forces on high alert after protests against high unemployment and a lack of basic services in the country's southern provinces spread to the capital, Baghdad.
The nationwide directive on Saturday was issued overnight by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who also serves as the country's commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Reinforcement soldiers from both the Counter Terrorism Service and the Army's Ninth Division have already been dispatched to Basra, where demonstrators gathered for the sixth consecutive day, to help protect the province's oil fields, security sources told the Reuters news agency.
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WNU Editor: This is worrisome because of this .... Oil installations hit by protests in southern Iraq (Al-Monitor). Internet services including social media have been shut down .... Iraq declares state of emergency amid ongoing violent protests (Kurdistan 24).
More News On Growing Protests In Southern Iraq Over Corruption, Poor Services, And The Economy
Security forces deploy in Iraq’s Najaf after day of protests -- AP
Iraq puts security forces on high alert on sixth day of protests in southern cities -- Reuters
Widespread unrest erupts in southern Iraq amid acute shortages of water, electricity -- Washington Post
Iraq protests spread to several cities amid more deaths -- Middle East Eye
Two killed in southern Iraq as protests spread -- AFP
Sadr urges security forces to show restraint as Iraqi protests continue -- Iraqi News
