Iraq: Parliament in secured Green Zone stormed
Created: 2022-07-27Updated: 2022-07-27 8:55 p.m
Supporters of the Shiite cleric al-Sadr stand in the Iraqi parliament.
© Ali Jabar/AP/dpa
The power struggle in Iraq has been raging for months.
Demonstrators are now apparently storming the high-security zone around Parliament.
According to reports, there are already injuries.
BAGHDAD - In the Iraqi capital Baghdad, demonstrators have invaded the parliament.
Shortly before, the crowd had stormed the highly secured green zone, as the Iraqi state news agency INA reported on Wednesday.
According to eyewitnesses, security forces first tried to disperse the crowd.
There were also reports of injuries.
Television images showed people waving the Iraqi flag in parliament.
Thousands of supporters of the influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr had previously gathered at the high-security zone, which houses parliament and many embassies.
Among other things, they demonstrated against the nomination of former minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for the post of prime minister.
This was proposed by a party alliance that sympathizes with neighboring Iran.
called to retreat
Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi and the supreme commander of the armed forces called on the demonstrators to immediately withdraw from parliament and the Green Zone.
Al-Sadr also called for a retreat.
He wrote on Twitter that the protest was a sign of rejection of injustice and corruption.
"Your message has arrived," said the priest.
In the evening, eyewitnesses reported a gradual withdrawal of the crowd from the secured zone.
Supporters of Shia cleric al-Sadr stand in front of police officers guarding the Green Zone, which houses parliament and many embassies.
Demonstrators in Baghdad first stormed the highly secured Green Zone and then broke into parliament.
© Adil Al-Khazali/AP/dpa
A power struggle has been raging in Iraq since the parliamentary elections last October.
Al-Sadr's list won the most seats.
The cleric tried to form a government, but in the end he withdrew from parliament with members of his party.
According to experts, al-Sadr's particular strength lies in his ability to mobilize crowds.
Some observers therefore interpreted his withdrawal from politics as a move to put parties and politicians under pressure.
Many Iraqis now have little faith in politics after the oil-rich country has been struggling with economic and political crises for years.
dpa
