Hundreds of protesters breach Iraq’s parliament building for a second time this week
Thousands of followers of an influential Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr stormed into Iraq’s parliament for the second time this week to protest against government formation efforts by Iran-backed groups.
Demonstrators oppose the candidacy of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, a former minister and provincial governor, who is the pro-Iran Coordination Framework’s (an alliance of Shia parties backed by Iran and led by former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki) pick for the premier’s post.
Al-Sadr’s supporters threw stones and police fired tear gas and stun grenades to repel the demonstrators.
The country’s Health Ministry said 100 civilians and 25 security personnel were injured after demonstrators swarmed Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, which houses official buildings and embassies.
Crowds of protesters carrying placards with al-Sadr’s photograph and national flags. “We are calling for a government free from corruption” one protester, Abu Foad, told Reuters.
Caretaker prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi called on protesters to “immediately withdraw” as he urged people to show calm and restraint.
The protests erupted as Iraq continues to face political deadlock. Sadr’s party came first in a general election in October but fell short of a majority. Ten months on, the deadlock persists and no official government has been formed.
The selection of a president and a prime minister has been a painfully slow process since Saddam Hussein was toppled by the US-led invasion of the oil-rich Iraq in 2003.