Iraqi Officials Impose Basra Curfew amid Protests

TEHRAN– Iraqi officials have imposed a curfew on Basra starting at 4pm local time (1300 GMT) on Saturday, a military statement said, according to Tasnim News Agency.

Iraq’s second biggest city has been rocked by five days of deadly demonstrations, in which government buildings have been ransacked and set alight by protesters angry over  mismanagement and the poor services in the port city of Basra, the agency said.

On Friday, protesters stormed the Iranian consulate and set a fire inside.

The US State Department criticized the attack, without explicitly mentioning Iran. “The United States condemns violence against diplomats, including that which occurred today in Basrah,” it said in a statement.

More than 10 protesters have died in clashes with security forces since Monday.

 Iraqi PM Orders Investigation into Basra Violence

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has ordered an investigation into the violence.

The national security team of al-Abadi is investigating the situation in Basra, according to a statement by his office late on Friday, AP reported.

Al-Abadi also said he would release funds earmarked for public programs in Basra, the report added.

The unrest in the south comes amid a political crisis in Baghdad, adding to overall tensions in the country.

The newly elected parliament earlier this week held its first session since the national elections in May, but the session was adjourned amid disagreements as two blocs, both claiming to hold the most seats, vied for the right to form a new government.

Saudi Arabia, Israel Likely behind Attack on Iran’s Consulate: US Analyst

 A former US army psychological warfare officer said a recent attack on Iran’s consulate in the city of Basra in Iraq is an attempt to cause a rift between Iran and Iraq, adding that it was most likely carried out by provocateurs paid by mercenary agents from Riyadh and Tel Aviv.

“This (attack on Iran’s consulate) is also an attempt to create tension and hostility between Iraq and Iran by trying to deceive Iran into thinking that Iraqi citizens are attacking Iran, when in fact these provocateurs are most likely paid mercenary agents from Saudi Arabia and Israel,” Scott Bennett, from San Francisco, told Tasnim on Saturday morning.

H.M