Iraq power protests leave over 50 police hurt, officials say

Hundreds of residents protested in Kut, eastern Iraq, over power cuts during extreme summer heat, with local health officials saying more than 50 police officers were injured in overnight clashes.

An AFP correspondent reported that hundreds of protesters took to the streets Friday night, with dozens throwing stones at security forces. Security forces fired tear gas and detained more than 30 people, the correspondent reported.

The clashes lasted until early Saturday morning. Two local health officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that more than 50 police officers were injured.

The number of injured protesters was unclear. One health source estimated it at around 30, and a health official said some protesters may have avoided hospital because they feared arrest.

Temperatures in Kut have reached 44C. Demonstrations over electricity cuts are frequent in Iraq during summer, when temperatures often reach 50C and many households receive only a few hours of state electricity a day.