BASRA, Iraq, July 16, 2018 (News Wires) - About 200 protesters gathered at the main entrance to Iraq's Siba natural gas field on Monday, police sources said, following more than a week of protest over poor services sweeping southern cities. Growing anger has put a spotlight on the performance of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who is seeking a second term after a May 12 parliamentary election which reflected widespread discontent over hardships and corruption. The oil hub of Basra and others parts of the Shi'ite heartland south have long been neglected, first by Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein and then Shi'ite-led governments after him. In a rare show of anger, protesters stormed the international airport in Najaf, a holy Shi'ite city. "We have demonstrated near the field to press the company to give us jobs. We are living nearby and watching every day hundreds of workers here sitting jobless and can hardly give food to our children," said Salim Khasbawi, who is unemployed.
