Unknown gunmen kill 2 media workers in Iraq's Basra

Unknown gunmen shot dead a reporter and a cameraman on Friday after they covered anti-government protest in Iraq's southern city of Basra, the Dijlah TV channel said.

The reporter, Ahmed Abdul Samad, and the cameraman, Safaa Ghali, worked for the Dijlah TV. They were shot dead inside their car while they were leaving the protest site in Basra, south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, the report said.

The killing came as massive demonstrations were held during the day in Baghdad and nine of Iraqi central and southern provinces, renewing their demands for comprehensive reforms, including nominating an independent prime minister to form a new government to prepare for early general elections.

The demonstrators also condemned the United States and Iran for what they described as interference in the internal affairs of Iraq and turning Iraq to an arena to settle their accounts.

In the past week, the U.S. killed a senior Iranian commander in a drone attack near the Baghdad International Airport, and Iran fired on Wednesday more than a dozen of missiles at two Iraqi bases housing U.S. troops in retaliation.

Mass anti-government demonstrations have continued in Iraq since last October, demanding comprehensive reform, fight against corruption, better public services and more jobs.