Influential Iraqi cleric urges more to join parliament takeover
- Thousands of supporters of Iraq’s influential cleric Moqtada al-Sadr stage sit-in in parliament
- Cleric’s group demand the dissolving of parliament, fresh elections and changes to the constitution
The influential Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr called on his supporters, including tribal leaders and paramilitary forces, to join thousands of others who are now occupying the nation’s parliament to prevent the formation of a new government.
“This is a great chance for radical change to the political system,” he tweeted on Sunday, the day after thousands of supporters stormed the nation’s seat of power, injuring more than 100 people. “Don’t miss your chance.”
The weekend’s turmoil intensified the political stand-off in Iraq, which has pitted Sadr against other Shiite groups in a power struggle. It presents a fresh test to a deeply fragile nation, which endured years of American occupation, attack by extremist Sunni forces and other sectarian violence.
Groups of supporters breached the parliament earlier last week. But the much larger mobilisation on Saturday came as parliament was set to nominate a new prime minister – now on indefinite hold as Sadr’s supporters settle into the area known as the Green Zone for the foreseeable future.
His group is demanding the dissolving of parliament, fresh elections and changes to the constitution.
The grouping of Shiite parties opposed to Sadr called his actions “a dangerous matter”, in a statement on Sunday. The group, Coordination Framework Alliance, also urged their own supporters to stage protests outside of the Green Zone on Monday – a prospect that raised worries of violence.