Iraq on high alert amid protests, claims of 'infiltration'
Iraq has placed its security forces on high alert amid protests against economic hardship spreading in the country’s southern provinces.
The order was issued by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who also serves as the commander in chief of the armed forces, Reuters quoted unnamed military intelligence and Ministry of Defense sources as saying.
Abadi visited Basra on Friday in a bid to help restore calm to the oil-rich province, pledging to take "necessary measures against infiltrators and pursue them in accordance with the law."
A statement from Abadi’s office cited “small and organized groups who try to exploit the peaceful demonstrations of citizens to sabotage and attack state institutions and private property.”
On Saturday, about 100 protesters closed access to the Umm Qasr commodities port near Basra. Port employees said the road leading into the terminal was blocked and trucks had no way of getting in or out.
Oil Minister Jabbar al-Luaibi has said that the protesters tried to break into an oil installation in the West Qurna 2 Oil Field of Basra Province.
The rallies began in the southern oil hub of Basra last week amid concerns over acute unemployment as well as electricity and water shortages and spread to several other cities, including holy Najaf, Amara, Nasiriya and Baghdad.
Two more protesters were reported killed in Amara overnight Saturday, bringing to three the number of demonstrators who have lost their lives since the unrest erupted last Sunday.
Protesters occupied the headquarters of the provincial governorate in Amara, threw stones at branches of the Dawa Party, and beat up policemen.
It was not clear who killed them but provincial authorities said there had been "indiscriminate gunfire" in the city.
Hundreds of demonstrators entered Najaf airport's main hall and walked onto the tarmac on Friday, but air traffic resumed later after the protesters withdrew.
Witnesses said security forces allowed protesters to enter the main airport building. Head of the Airport’s Administrative Council Jawad al-Karawi said certain officials and politicians were trying to economically harm the airport.
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