URGENT: Basra demonstrators demand transfer of province to a federal region

Basra (IraqiNews.com) On Saturday dozens of citizens participated in a demonstration near the headquarters of the local government in Basra, demanding the transfer of the province to a federal region in protest against the weakness of governance, despite its great economic importance, accusing the powerful political forces of ignoring the rights of the province.

The Secretary General of the National Independent clans, Sheikh Aziz Obeid Aboud Al Hilfi said in an interview for IraqiNews.com, “many tribal elders participated along with the young people in the demonstration. We demanded the establishment of the province of Basra in response to the injustice, which we suffered decades ago” noting that “the powerful political forces did not do justice to Basra; they ignored its rights.”