Iraq: Hundreds rally for jobs and better living conditions in Basra

M/S Demonstrators with flags, Basra
W/S Demonstrators with flags
M/S Demonstrator with placard
M/S Speaker at demonstration
M/S Demonstrators with flags
W/S Demonstrators with flags
W/S Demonstrators
W/S Demonstrators chanting
W/S Police
W/S Demonstrators chanting
M/S Demonstrators chanting
M/S Armoured vehicle
W/S Demonstrators with banner
M/S Iraqi flag
W/S Police
W/S Police
SOT, Demonstrator (Arabic): "Today since al-Hikma party is an opposition party we demand a fixing of the infrastructure and we demand a curbing of the unemployment rate. An implementation of the government's program in reality, not just on paper, and also to restrain weapons to the government's hands only. And to hold criminal militias accountable,"
M/S Demonstrators
SOT, Demonstrator (Arabic): "We are here to demand reliable basic services and the fixing of the infrastructure of Basra. Infrastructure projects are available but its decaying or its not working at all."
C/U Placard
SOT, Demonstrator (Arabic): "Our aim is not political or against any one or against the governor
But we demand jobs for the unemployed."
M/S Demonstrators
W/S Demonstration
W/S Demonstrators, security forces
W/S Armoured vehicles
W/S People walking past armoured vehicles
W/S People walking past armoured vehicles
SCRIPT
Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of the Iraqi city of Basra on Friday, as part of nationwide protests demanding better services and jobs as well as improvements in living conditions.
Footage shows demonstrators raising Iraqi flags and banners as they rally near the presence of security forces.
"We demand a fixing of the infrastructure and we demand a curbing of the unemployment rate. An implementation of the government's program in reality, not just on paper, and also to restrain weapons to the government's hands only. And to hold criminal militias accountable," one demonstrator said.
Friday's demonstrations were convened by the National Wisdom Movement [also known as al-Hikmah] opposition coalition in the Iraqi parliament, which is led by Ammar al-Hakim.
Al-Hikmah possesses 19 out of 329 seats in the Iraqi parliament.