Baghdad.- The two terminals, located in southern oil-rich Basra province, and the Rumailah oil field, were paralyzed due to roadblocks.

Reports say that there is a long line of trucks waiting to be loaded.

Exports of heavy crude oil are shipped from Khor al-Zubair, while Umm Qasr is the main entry point for food and medicines in Iraq.

Export and import operations have been halted, as trucks cannot pass the blocks, it was reported.

The demonstrators resorted to sit-in tactics and roadblocks in the two ports to force the government to heed their demands for better living conditions.

Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi instructed security forces to keep the demonstrators away from key infrastructure, and riot police used force to clear the roads.

Since the protests began on October 1, more than 330 people have been killed and 15,000 have been injured. (PL)

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