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Iraq struggles to contain Basra oil protests

A demonstration threatens to shut down roads into the West Qurna 1 oil field as protesters, emboldened by a supportive message from Sistani, rail against government failures.
Protesters stage a sit-in using makeshift tents at the West Qurna 1 oil field in Basra on July 30, 2018, as security forces gather nearby. (JASSIM AL-JABIRI/Iraq Oil Report)

IMAM AL-SADIQ - Protests continued to escalate in Basra on Tuesday, as demonstrators threatened shut down all roads leading to the super-giant West Qurna 1 oil field.

Outraged protesters have flocked back to several oil sites in Basra following a message Friday from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, who encouraged his followers to express their displeasure about the Iraqi government's failures to address problems of corruption, unemployment, and lack of basic services.

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