Protesters re-open roads in Iraq after new jobs promised

Road access to Iraq's southern Umm Qasr commodities port was restored on Sunday following a two-day closure by protesters after the authorities promised to create new jobs, a port company spokesman and port workers said. Thousands of Iraqis have organized protests, calling for jobs, government services and reforms of the judiciary, parliament and local governing bodies. At Umm Qasr, negotiations with security officials and the director of the state-run General Company for Ports of Iraq resulted in a pledge to create up to 75 new jobs, said company spokesman Anmar al-Safi.