Baghdad (AsiaNews) - The Iraqi Minister of Energy, Karim Waheed, has tendered his resignation following violent protests triggered by constant blackouts that plague Iraq. While politicians continue to discuss the formation of new government, in fact, the country faces the hot summer temperatures, with no possibility of even turning on air conditioners.

Waheed, who has headed the pivotal Ministry since 2006, told state television that his decision was provoked by “Iraqis impatience, their inability to await the implementation of projects to eliminate energy outages and lack of funds allocated by central government for his ministry".

For years, Baghdad has been unable to guarantee the country a regular supply of electricity. This has resulted in a flourishing jungle of electric generators of all sizes and dense networks of wires from generators to homes and shops. This is the landscape that now characterizes the country, as indicative of the conditions of daily life, and one which show no sign of improving. Iraqis are asking - says an editorial in the newspaper Azzaman – why the situation of granting a basic service like electricity remains the same as it was under Saddam Hussein, while needs have increased. Suppliers of electric generators have in reality established monopolies imposing their own conditions for sale and rent, without any government control, which has created a thriving black market".  What is the government doing and what will the future parliament do to solve such a basic problem?", asks the Azzaman columnist.

People are exasperated, while temperatures approach 50 º C. Violent demonstrations took place between 19 and 21 June in Basra - where two people were killed in clashes with police - and in Nasiriyah. In both protests hundreds of Iraqis have demanded the resignation of Waheed. Local religious leaders convened the event in Nasiriyah, where some officers were wounded. The area is a stronghold of the Muqtada al-Sadr movement, which is always attentive to its popular base and interested in grabbing important posts in the new government, after the success of legislative elections on 7 March.

Meanwhile in Baghdad’s political chambers, deputies are g getting worried about the growing discontent among the people. Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, warns that the population is tired of the lack of services and all these television debates on government formation and appointment of a new Prime Minister. (LYR)