2 killed as Iraqi protests spread from Basra to Baghdad & other cities

Demonstrations against unemployment, poor government services and corruption that began in Basra have now spread to other Iraqi cities, including Najaf, Amara, Nasiriya and the capital Baghdad. Two protesters were killed amid clashes with security forces in Amara, near Iraq's Iranian border, on Saturday night, the medics said, bringing the death toll during the week of unrest to three people, with dozens also injured. There was also a small protest in Baghdad, which took place under a heavy deployment of security forces, AFP reported. Iraqi authorities have convened for an extraordinary National Security Council meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, in order to decide how to control the situation.