Doctor explains the reaction of an AR-15 rifle on the body 2:55
Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) --
More than 100 people were injured in Baghdad on Saturday after protesters protesting the nomination of a new prime minister managed to take over the Iraqi capital's heavily fortified Green Zone for the second time this week.
Crowds of angry protesters loyal to powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the secure area where government buildings are located despite security forces using tear gas and water cannons to disperse them.
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Protesters then stormed the parliament, according to the Iraqi state news agency (INA).
Videos circulating on social media appeared to show people waving the Iraqi flag walking past security elements through the gates of parliament.
At least 125 people have been injured, including 100 civilians and 25 military personnel, according to the country's Ministry of Health.
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) described the recent escalation in tensions as "deeply worrying".
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“The voices of reason and wisdom are essential to prevent further violence.
All actors are encouraged to de-escalate in the interest of all Iraqis," UNAMI said in a tweet.
Outgoing Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, who is currently Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has called for peace and for protesters "not to escalate the situation."
In a statement on Saturday, he called on the protesters to abide by the orders of the security forces and stressed that the security forces "have a duty to protect official institutions and emphasized the need to take all legal measures to maintain order." .
The protests began after Mohammed Shiya al-Sudani was formally nominated on Monday to lead the country by the Coordination Framework, the largest Shiite alliance in Iraq's parliament.
Protesters applaud after entering Iraq's parliament on Saturday.
His nomination followed the mass resignation of al-Sadr's parliamentary bloc, a group of more than 70 lawmakers who walked out of the governing body last month in an apparent show of force after months of political deadlock.
Iraq has struggled to form a new government since parliamentary elections in October.
Sadr's own attempts to form a government have previously failed amid opposition from rival blocs.
"If the remaining Sadrist bloc [in parliament] is an obstacle to government formation, then all lawmakers in the bloc are honorably ready to resign from parliament," Sadr said in a televised speech in June.
The cleric, who positions himself against Iran and the United States, is immensely popular.
His bloc's success in the October vote threatened to sideline Iran-aligned Shi'ite blocs that have long dominated the oil-rich country's politics.
On Wednesday, al-Sadr told protesters at the parliament building that his "message" had been received and that they should go home.
“A revolution of reform and rejection of injustice and corruption.
Your message has been received.
You have terrorized the corrupt.
Pray and come home safe and sound,” he tweeted.
The outgoing government of Prime Minister al-Kadhimi also issued a statement calling on Sadrist protesters to "immediately withdraw from the Green Zone", preserve public and private property and abide by the instructions of the security forces.
"The security forces will be committed to protecting state institutions and international missions, and preventing any disturbance of security and order," al-Kadhimi added.
Aqeel Najim reported from Baghdad, Hamdi Alkhshali reported from Atlanta, and Eyad Kourdi reported from Gaziantep. Obaida Nafaa in Dubai and Alex Stambaugh in Hong Kong contributed reporting. Ivana Kottasová wrote in London.
Baghdad