Iranian police kill demonstrator during protest over water scarcity

Local commander says shots fired in the air after crowd refused to disperse, man hit in the neck and died in hospital

Iran’s state-run news agency said Thursday that police had killed a man while trying to disperse a protest over water scarcity.

IRNA quoted Col. Mohammad Ebadi Nejad, a local police chief in southern Iran, as saying police fired shots in the air after ordering a crowd to disperse. He said the man was shot in the neck and taken to a hospital, where he died.

IRNA said the clashes began after authorities removed illegal water pumps from a river.

Protests have been held across southern Iran in recent weeks over water scarcity. Much of the country is suffering from drought, and in some areas tap water has turned muddy or salty.

The water shortage has compounded Iran’s economic woes after the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord and vowed to instate severe economic sanctions.

تیراندازی در خرمشهر
شاهدان عینی از وقوع تیراندازی در خرمشهر، چهارراه مطهری خبر داده‌اند
خرمشهر در روزهای اخیر شاهد برگزاری تجمعات اعتراضی بوده. این ویدیوها را مخاطبان از ناآرامی‌های امشب فرستاده‌اند pic.twitter.com/g8L4fwnsK9
— BBC NEWS فارسی (@bbcpersian) June 30, 2018

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