Southern anger escalates... protests and closure of government headquarters, 26 JUNE

 Southern anger escalates... protests and closure of government headquarters

Several Iraqi governorates witnessed, on Wednesday morning, demonstrations demanding the provision of basic services, including water and electricity.

In a new escalation of protests in Dhi Qar Governorate, demonstrators closed the governorate’s office building and its council, until demands were met, according to video scenes obtained by Shafaq News Agency.

As for Babylon, dozens of residents of the Khamisiyah and Al-Ghazali areas demonstrated in front of the Babylon Governorate Office, to demand the provision of water to their areas, which suffer from unprecedented scarcity.

The water crisis forced residents to abandon their areas and the agricultural and livestock wealth in the most important agricultural areas south of Babil Governorate was completely destroyed.

The capital, Baghdad, woke up to the launch of two demanding demonstrations in Tahrir Square and in front of the Provincial Council building.

According to Shafaq News Agency correspondent, dozens of “whose appointments were canceled and those fleeing from the Ministry of Defense” gathered in Tahrir Square, to demand their return to service.

In a second demonstration, dozens of educators and administrators gathered near the Baghdad Provincial Council, to demand the issuance of an appointment order for them.

Iraq has been suffering from a chronic electricity shortage for decades, as a result of the siege and successive wars, and residents have been protesting for many years the frequent power outages, especially during the summer, when temperatures sometimes exceed the 50 degree Celsius barrier.  link