WEATHER-HEAT WAVE/IRAQ-PROTEST Iraqi protesters demand service improvement, government change

Record ID: 145064

  • Title: WEATHER-HEAT WAVE/IRAQ-PROTEST Iraqi protesters demand service improvement, government change
  • Date: 4th August 2015
  • Summary: AMARA, IRAQ (AUGUST 4, 2015) (REUTERS) PROTESTERS MARCHING IN STREET VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING AND CHANTING FEMALE PROTESTERS MARCHING AND CHANTING (in Arabic): ''Lawmakers are thieves'' PROTESTERS HOLDING MOCK COFFIN WITH BANNER READING (in Arabic): ''Parliament'' PROTESTERS MARCHING WOMAN AND OTHER PROTESTERS MARCHING AND CHANTING PROTESTERS CHANTING AND CLAPPING (S
  • Embargoed: 19th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8YNQ79B1R6GLR501139NESZX4
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Iraqis in the southeastern governorate of Maysan on Tuesday (August 4) called for government reform and an improvement of services, joining up in their demands with protesters across Iraq who have been angered by the lack of power supply in the middle of the summer heat.
    Hundreds of protesters marched in the streets of the provincial capital Amara shouting slogans and carrying banners criticizing the way the country is administered by both parliament and government.
    ''The protest that the residents of Maysan organized today has three demands, which are not exclusive to the governorate but are important to all Iraqis. First of all, improving the services especially power supply in this searing heat. Second of all, ending corruption in the financial and administrative sectors which is one of the main reasons behind the country's problems, and thirdly to have experts and technocrats lead the country,'' said one protester, Amjad Al Dahamat.
    Hundreds of protesters marched and chanted slogans such as ''Lawmakers are thieves" and carried a mock coffin representing the government, while a banner read: ''On top of Daesh and the suffering, we have to suffer power outages,'' referring to Islamic State.
    "The people of Maysan governorate today are protesting in order to call for political and economic reforms, and call on the leading political blocs to stop sharing quotas based on political and sectarian alliances, and to put a government of technocrats in place instead,'' said protester, Hussein al-Deryan.
    Similar protests were held in Baghdad and Basra recently. The government declared a four-day weekend last week because of a heat wave.
    Iraq's infrastructure was severely damaged during the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussain and the country has suffered chronic power shortages ever since.
    The power outages have been a source of concern for Iraqis across the country.
    The government has repeatedly promised an end to the crisis, compounded by insurgent attacks since 2003, but shortages have continued and private generators flourished as an alternative.
    Power from the national grid is on only a few hours a day in most parts of the country, which Iraqis say is difficult to cope with in the summer heat.
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