Iraqis Protest At Oil Fields To Call For Jobs, Basic Services

Iraqi police fired into the air to disperse protesters demanding jobs and better public services at one of three demonstrations outside major oil fields in the southern oil hub of Basra on July 12, police sources said.

Two protesters were wounded, police and hospital sources said, without elaborating after the incident near an entrance to the giant West Qurna 2 oil field, run by Lukoil.

Local workers said about 10 protesters managed to briefly enter a crude separation facility before police pushed them back. An angry crowd set fire to a caravan used by police, said two policemen at the scene.

The unrest did not impact production at West Qurna 2 or the other two fields, West Qurna 1 and Rumaila, two oil officials said.