Iranian police kill man during protests over water shortages

Iranian police killed a man on Thursday while trying to disperse a protest over water scarcity.

Iran's state news agency IRNA quoted Mohammad Ebadi Nejad, a local police chief in southern Iran, as saying police fired shots in the air after ordering a crowd to disperse.

He said the man was shot in the neck and taken to a hospital, where he died.

IRNA said the clashes began after authorities removed illegal water-pumps from a river.

Protests have been held across southern Iran in recent weeks over water scarcity.

Much of the country is suffering from drought, and in some areas tap water has turned muddy or salty.

The water shortage has compounded Iran's economic woes after the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord.