BP and its partners at Iraq’s Rumaila oil field this month celebrated a milestone; the fifth anniversary of the start of a massive redevelopment of one of the world’s largest fields. But celebrations in the field’s Basra province were short-lived.

Basra province contains not only Rumaila but the vast bulk of Iraq’s other key producing oil fields. Here the mainly Shia population has in the past few weeks taken to the streets to vent their anger, some of it directed against the government and some against the international oil companies they feel have not done enough to provide basic services and jobs. (CONTINUED - 888 WORDS)