New water pollution protests hit southwest Iran, reported clashes with police

Protesters clashed with security forces in southwestern Iran late Sunday, a day after several demonstrators were injured in nighttime skirmishes over water pollution, Iranian state media reported.

The latest protests were held in Abadan, 12 kilometers (eight miles) from Khorramshahr, where 11 people were hurt Saturday when an unidentified gunman opened fire during a demonstration, according to officials.

State-run IRNA news agency did not specify how many people were involved in the Abadan demonstration, but said security forces had broken up a crowd that was “disrupting public order”.

Iranian state media said protesters clashed with police

Khorramshahr

It said people protesting over poor water quality in a western district of the city had thrown projectiles and set fire to rubbish bins and a vehicle.

Authorities say one protester and 10 police were injured, and videos posted online showed gunfire ringing out.

The agency did not report any further injuries, but added that water pollution in the two cities of Khuzestan province had sparked several demonstrations over the past four days.

The province was devastated by the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq in the 1980s and suffers from chronic pollution and drought.

It has a largely Arab population that has long complained of official discrimination.