AP, Baghdad, February 6, 2011 – Several thousand protesters across Iraq are calling on the government to provide better utilities and public services.
In the southern port city of Basra، around 1،5000 demonstrators on Sunday scuffled with riot police who lined up to protect the provincial government headquarters.In eastern Diyala province، about 1،000 protesters marched through town، pointing to raw sewage in the streets to underscore their demands for improved city services.
Many homes in Iraq have no more than three hours of electricity each day، and heavy rains across the country this week spurred sewage overflows in poverty-stricken areas.
 Smaller protests also were held in Baghdad and the western city of Ramadi.