Unrest in Iraq : Protests rage over poor public services, unemployment

Growing anger over poor public services and widespread corruption spurs protests in some southern cities. Widespread unrest is engulfing southern Iraq as Iraqis frustrated by shortages of electricity, water and jobs vent their anger, setting fire to political offices, attacking government infrastructure and deepening uncertainty about the country’s shaky political future. The government on Saturday cut off Internet access across much of Iraq in an apparent bid to contain further violence. The Defense Ministry ordered security forces on high alert after demonstrations that erupted six days earlier in the southern port city of Basra spread overnight to many other parts of the overwhelmingly Shiite south, where a heat wave has aggravated poor living conditions.