RED ALERT AS RIOTERS STORM GREEN ZONE
BAGHDAD: Hundreds of supporters of powerful Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-sadr stormed Baghdad’s parliament in the city’s high-security Green Zone in protest at a rival Shiite bloc’s nomination for prime minister.
Police fired barrages of tear gas in a bid to stop the protesters from breaching the gates of the heavily fortified Green Zone, but the crowds surged forward and forced their way into the parliament.
“I am against the corrupt officials who are in power,” said protester Mohamed Ali, a 41-year-old labourer, one of the hundreds who entered the zone that is home to government buildings and diplomatic missions, before later leaving peacefully.
The protests are the latest challenge for oil-rich Iraq, which remains mired in a political and a socioeconomic crisis despite soaring global energy prices.
Mr Sadr’s bloc emerged from elections in October as the biggest parliamentary faction, but was still far short of a majority and, nine months on, deadlock persists over the establishment of a new government.
Crowds wandered around the parliament building waving national flags, taking photographs, chanting and cheering.
Prime Minister Mustafa al-kadhemi told the protesters to “immediately withdraw”, warning security forces would ensure “the protection of state institutions and foreign missions, and prevent harm to security and order”.
But it was only when Mr Sadr intervened that the protesters started to leave nearly two hours later.
“Your message has been heard … you have terrorised the corrupt”, he said, calling on the demonstrators to say a prayer “before returning home safe and sound”.