The Sairoon alliance led by Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has released a statement calling for the resignation of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi as ongoing protests continue to grip the city of Basra.

The statement came on Saturday when Basra airport was targeted by rocket fire on Saturday after another night of protests against Iraq's political elite during which demonstrators torched the Iranian consulate and briefly took oilfield workers hostage.

Basra's streets were quiet and emptying out as officials re-imposed the curfew starting at 4 p.m. local time (1300 GMT). Organizers of the demonstrations said they would pause protests on Saturday following the previous evening's escalation.

Al Arabiya English and Reuters