Iraqi cleric Ali al-Sistani urged on Friday the formation of a new government “as soon as possible” after the country witnessed waves of protests against corruption, unemployment and poor basic services. He also urged the incumbent government of Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to meet the demands of the demonstrators. "The current government must work hard urgently to implement citizens demands to reduce their suffering and misery," Sistanis representative said in the city of Karbala. The rallies had initially erupted in the southern oil-rich port city of Basra on July 8. They then spread to central and southern parts of the country. They have since waned after security forces repeatedly used force to disperse demonstrators. On Thursday, one youth complained that the country’s government had increased unemployment, posing threats to stability in southern Iraq. Karar Alaa Abdul-Wahid tried for years to get a stable job in the Iraqi government and in the private sector — to no avail, reported The Associated Press. He once was offered a job with the Oil Ministry in his energy-rich hometown of Basra, but he would have had to pay a bribe of $5,000, which he couldnt afford. He says that "if you are well-connected mainly among political parties and have money, you will get any job you dream of." "If not, you will get nothing." Rights commission official Fadel al-Gharrawi said earlier this week that 14 people had died in Basra, Samawah, Najaf and Karbala and in the provinces of Diwaniyah and Babylon. He did not specify whether those killed were protesters or members of the security services. Gharrawi said 275 protesters and 470 security personnel were wounded during thousands-strong demonstrations against corrupt officials. He said over 800 people had also been arrested, but said "the majority were later released", without providing a precise figure.