- Anger -

In August 2015, protests at the poor quality of water and electricity supply spread across the country.

Thousands of people gather in central Baghdad and the south, accusing the government of corruption and incompetence in public services.

Later in the month, powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr calls on his supporters to join the demonstrations.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, backed by the top Shiite religious authority in Iraq, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, announces a series of reforms, which are slow in materialising.

- Sit-in -

On February 26, 2016, tens of thousands of Sadr's supporters rally in central Baghdad. He demands the government carry out serious reforms.

On March 18, Sadr supporters launch a two-week sit-in at the main gates of Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, home to most key institutions, including the prime minister's office, parliament and embassies.

On the 27th, Sadr enters the Zone to step up pressure on the government.

In April, thousands of protesters break into the Green Zone and storm parliament for several hours.

On May 20, Sadr supporters briefly storm the prime minister's office in the Zone.

In mid-September, thousands of Sadr supporters again demonstrate in Baghdad to call for reforms.

- Basra boils over -

On July 8, 2018, dozens demonstrate in the oil-rich Basra province of southern Iraq, demanding jobs for the young and better services.

Protests spread and degenerate into deadly violence, with thousands demonstrating over the summer to denounce failing public services and negligence by the authorities.

In early September, demonstrations engulf Basra, after nearly 120,000 people are hospitalised after drinking polluted water.

In five days, 12 protesters are killed and many public buildings torched, along with the Iranian consulate.

The social unrest leaves 27 dead in Iraq since July.

On September 8, Sadr withdraws support from premier Abadi, his former ally. Abadi later throws in the towel and is replaced by former vice-president Adel Abdel Mahdi, who gains a parliamentary vote of confidence on October 25.

- New deadly protests -

On October 1, protesters descend on the centre of the capital and in the south of the country before being dispersed by security forces with a volley of gunfire and tear gas in the first challenge to Iraq's fragile year-old government.

The demonstrations apparently do not have a unified leadership, in the form of political party, religious leader or other organisation.

Interior ministry spokesman Saad Maan says that "infiltrators were behind the violent acts in the protests".

The UN's top official in Iraq expresses "grave concern", calling on security forces to show restraint.

On October 2, thousands of demonstrators again rally and are confronted by live fire and tear gas.

The protests leave at least nine dead and hundreds injured in 24 hours.

Security forces seal off the Green Zone, around which protests are focused.