Iraq Unrest Over Corruption And Poor Services Continue In Southern Iraq

CNBC: More turmoil in Iraq as deadly protests ravage oil-rich south

* Cities across Iraq are being roiled by popular protests triggered by widespread anger over abysmal public services provision by the government.
* The unrest threatens to delay formation of a new government and has already led to break-ins to oil facilities and political offices.
* Particularly acute is the demonstrators’ resentment toward the international oil companies — despite living in the heart of the oil industry, residents of Basra and Iraq’s south are some of the country’s poorest.

Protests that began last week in Iraq are continuing amid widespread anger over abysmal public services provision by the government.

The unrest threatens to delay formation of a new government, mandated after Iraq’s elections in May, and has already led to break-ins to oil facilities and political offices.

First sparked in the oil-rich southern province of Basra and spreading to several cities including the capital Baghdad, Iraqis are voicing their frustrations over widespread unemployment, pollution, dirty drinking water and electricity failures during a stifling heat wave in the country’s south. While many of the protests have been peaceful, others have seen buildings set on fire, roads blocked and infrastructure damaged.

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Update: Protests are threatening OPEC's 2nd biggest oil producer (Business Insider/OilPrice.com)

WNU Editor: These protests show no sign of ending.