Violence in Iraq spread to the capital Sept. 7, as three mortar shells hit Baghdad's Green Zone, the center of government institutions.

The zone is heavily fortified and no casualties were reported. But the attack comes amid bloody protests this week in the southern city of Basra, where so far more than 10 protesters have been killed. Dozens of protesters and members of the security forces have been injured.

The outgoing government hasn't addressed protesters' demands for basic services in Basra, and the legislature's political parties have failed to form a new Cabinet in the four months since the parliamentary elections took place.

Protesters on Sept. 6 attacked and set on fire political parties’ buildings in various areas of Basra province. The buildings mostly belong to pro-Iran parties. Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, the Badr Organization, Hezbollah Brigades, Khorasani Brigades, Islamic Dawa Party and Hezbollah al-Nujaba are among the dozens of political parties whose buildings were set on fire. On Friday, protesters also set fire to the Iranian Consulate in Basra.