The head of the UN in Iraq issued an appeal for calm.
Jan Kubis urged “the authorities to avoid using disproportionate, lethal force against the demonstrators, provide the necessary protection for the people of Basra, ensure human rights while protecting law and order, and investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the outbreak of the violence,” read a statement from his office issued on Wednesday.
He also called on the government “as a matter of urgency” to respond to the demands of the protesters for clean water and electricity.
Protests, that had begun in July but quieted down in recent weeks, began again on Friday.
One protester, Maky Yassir, was killed in a demonstration on Monday night.
Protesters accompanied his coffin in a march through the city on Tuesday. Some of the civilians were armed and fired their guns into the air. Security forces dispersed the crowd using tear gas.
Thousands later rallied at the governorate headquarters, throwing Molotov cocktails and fireworks at the building, setting the top floor on fire.
Six protesters were killed and more than 20 injured according to Mehdi al-Tamimi, the local head of Iraq’s Human Rights Commission, who told AFP that security forces “directly opened fire on protesters.”
Several members of the security forces were also reported injured.
Hospitals were filled with the wounded and a curfew was imposed.
At his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi responded to the death of Maky Yassir.
"I am so sorry for the loss of a martyr in Basra and for the wounded, either civilians or our heroes of the security forces,” he said.
He said he has ordered an investigation into the cause of “this collision between the security forces and the protesters,” questioning why government institutions and security forces were being targeted.
“Somebody is trying to pour oil on fire and to damage the relationship between security forces and the people, so the security of Basra will be in danger,” said Abadi.
Masoud Barzani, head of the KDP, issued a statement expressing solidarity with peaceful protesters in Basra.
He called to mind the history between the Kurdistan Region and the southern Iraqi province.
"We will never forget the kindness, warmness, and love of the esteemed people of Basra when they warmly welcomed the immortal [Mullah Mustafa] Barzani and his companions who sought asylum in the Soviet Union due to their struggle against long-lasting atrocities and discrimination. Therefore, we express our sympathy and support for the people of Basra and hope that their rights are respected and their demands met,” read the statement issued by his office.
The late Kurdish leader was well-received in Basra when he returned from exile in the Soviet Union in 1958.
Supporting the “right of protest” and questioning why the resource-rich province is lacking basic services, Masoud Barzani urged the protesters to remain non-violent and promised the support of the people of the Kurdistan Region.
The Kurdistan Region-based NGO Barzani Charity Foundation donated 1.2 million bottles of drinking water to Basra last week amid a shortage of clean drinking water and concerns of health risks.
Updated at 1:46 pm
