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Basra considering autonomy move after protests ignite again
People protest in front of the provincial council building during a demonstration demanding better public services and jobs in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, Iraq, last Saturday

OFFICIALS from the southern Iraqi province of Basra are considering moves towards autonomy as growing protests over unemployment, poor public services and corruption threaten regional stability.

Governor of Basra Asaad Al Eidani confirmed that he will travel to the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region next week to learn from their experiences and to explore whether they can be replicated in the oil-rich province.

“A delegation from the province of Basra will soon visit the Kurdistan Region in coordination with the regional government in order to be closely aware of the authority of the decentralised region.

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