Shocking pictures
Civil unrest fuelled by anger against perceived corruption and misrule by Iraq's political elite intensified across the south of the country on Friday, as protesters stormed the Iranian consulate in Basra while others briefly took workers hostage at a nearby oilfield.
After five days of deadly demonstrations in Basra in which government buildings have been ransacked and set alight, protesters broke in and damaged the consulate's offices, shouting condemnation of what many perceive as Iran's sway over Iraq's political affairs. Security sources said the consulate was empty when the crowd burst in. Iraq's Foreign Ministry said the storming of the consulate, which it deeply regretted, had nothing to do with protesters' demands.
"The targeting of diplomatic missions is unacceptable and detrimental to the interests of Iraq," said ministry spokesman Ahmed Mahjoub. Iran, however, blamed Iraq for failing to protect its embassy and said it expected Baghdad to "identify and punish the attackers quickly," Bahram Qassemi, the spokesman for the ministry, told journalists, according to state media. The Iraqi ambassador to Tehran was later summoned to the foreign ministry over the complaints.
1. Protesters in Basra
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An Iraqi protester flashes the victory gesture outside outside the burning local government headquarters in the southern city of Basra on September 7, 2018 during demonstrations over poor public services. - Basra has seen a surge in protests since September 4, with demonstrators torching government buildings as well as political party and militia offices, as anger boils over after the hospitalisation of 30,000 people who had drunk polluted water. (Photo by Haidar MOHAMMED ALI / AFP)
2. Protesters in Basra
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An Iraqi protester holds up a portrait depicting Irans former and current Supreme Leaders Ayatollah Khomeini and Khamenei alongside an Iranian flag during demonstrations against the government and the lack of basic services in Basra on September 7, 2018. - Iraqi protesters on Friday torched the Iranian consulate in the southern city of Basra on September 7 in fresh demonstrations over poor public services after parliament called for an emergency session on the unrest. (Photo by Haidar MOHAMMED ALI / AFP)
3. Protesters in Basra
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Iraqi protesters burn the Iranian Consulate in Basra, Iraq September 7, 2018. REUTERS/Essam al-Sudani TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
4. Protesters in Basra
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An Iraqi protester gestures in front of the burnt Iranian Consulate in Basra, Iraq September 7, 2018. REUTERS/Essam al-Sudani
5. Protesters in Basra
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An Iraqi protester gestures in front of the burnt Iranian Consulate in Basra, Iraq September 7, 2018. REUTERS/Essam al-Sudani
6. Protesters in Basra
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This picture taken on September 7, 2018 shows the burning headquarters of the Iranian consulate in the southern Iraqi city of Basra which was torched by protesters during demonstrations over poor public services, after parliament called for an emergency session on the unrest. - Basra has seen a surge in protests since September 4, with demonstrators torching government buildings as well as political party and militia offices, as anger boils over after the hospitalisation of 30,000 people who had drunk polluted water. (Photo by Haidar MOHAMMED ALI / AFP)
7. Protesters in Basra
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Basra has seen a surge in protests since September 4, with demonstrators torching government buildings as well as political party and militia offices, as anger boils over after the hospitalisation of 30,000 people who had drunk polluted water. (Photo by Haidar MOHAMMED ALI / AFP)
8. Protesters in Basra
)
Basra has seen a surge in protests since September 4, with demonstrators torching government buildings as well as political party and militia offices, as anger boils over after the hospitalisation of 30,000 people who had drunk polluted water. (Photo by Haidar MOHAMMED ALI / AFP)
