UTV | COLOMBO – Thousands of protesting tribesmen in southern Iraq have threatened to “paralyze” oil production if the hundreds of companies running the oil fields fail to employ them.
Tensions in Basra escalated after police opened fire to disperse protesters who had blocked the road leading to West Qurna, home of the largest oil fields in Iraq, on Sunday.
One demonstrator was killed and three wounded, medics and police said.
Security has been stepped up and international oil companies have moved senior staff members amid fears that the protests could escalate into rioting.
Several influential tribes, including Albu-Mansour, the tribe of the protester who died, demanded police hand over the officer who fired the fatal shot, and the commander who ordered him to shoot, or to prosecute them. (Courtesy – Arab News)