Iraqi political crisis deepens
Protesters storm off-limits Green Zone
State of emergency declared as protesters tear into Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, storming parliament.
BAGHDAD — Anti-government protesters tore down walls and poured into the Iraqi capital’s heavily fortified Green Zone on Saturday, prompting a state of emergency declaration in Baghdad as they stormed parliament in a major escalation of a political crisis that has simmered for months.
Supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have been holding demonstrations and sit-ins for months to demand an overhaul of what they say is a corrupt and ineffective political system in Iraq, but Saturday was the first time they broke into the Green Zone, home to most government ministries and foreign embassies.
Iraqi security forces fired tear gas at one entrance of the zone but appeared to be largely standing down as protesters marched through the area, chanting and waving Iraqi flags. Hundreds were still pouring into the Green Zone as night fell.
Iraq has been mired in a political crisis for months, hindering the government’s ability to combat the Islamic State group — which still controls much of the country’s north and west — or address financial woes largely caused by the plunge in global oil prices.
Al-Sadr and his supporters want to reform the political system put in place following the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, in which entrenched political blocs representing the country’s Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds rely on patronage, resulting in widespread corruption and poor public services.
The major blocs have until now stymied there form efforts of Prime Minister H aider al-Abadi, who has sought to address the protesters’ demands.
Earlier Saturday, al-Sadr repeated accusations that Iraqi politicians are responsible for blocking political reforms. He did not call for an escalation in the protests, but shortly after his remarks his supporters began scaling the Green Zone’s walls. Agroup of youngmen then pulled down a section of concrete blast walls to cheers from the crowd of thousands.
The Green Zone has long been the focus of al-Sadr’s allegations that the government is detached from the people. The compound is off-limits to the vast majority of Iraqis, as security procedures require multiple checks and specific documentation to enter.
Shortly after the breach, cellphone videos uploaded to social media showed dozens of young men running through the halls of parliament, chanting slogans in support of al-Sadr and calling for the government to disband.
“We are all with you (al-Sadr),” one group of men yelled as they entered the building’s main chamber.
Other videos showed a group of young men slapping an Iraqi lawmaker as he attempted to flee the crowd and protesters mobbing another lawmaker’s motorcade inside the Green Zone. The footage appeared authentic.
Iraqi security forces initially responded by tightening security across the capital, sealing off checkpoints leading to the Green Zone and halting traffic on main roads heading into the city, according to the Baghdad Operations Command.
But Iraq’s elite counterterrorism forces, which have in the past been called on to reinforce security in the capital, said they are standing down for now.
“We still view this as a demonstration,” said Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the counterterrorism forces. “We aren’t taking any part in this as it’s not something regarding terrorism.”
He added, however, that if the unrest escalates his forces may be forced to intervene to “protect the legitimacy of the government.”
Al-Abadi issued a statement saying that “the situation in Baghdad is under the control of the security forces,” but he also called on protesters to demonstrate peacefully.
Al-Abadi had been set to appear before parliament Saturday to seek the body’s approval for the remainder of his Cabinet reshuffle, but the session was postponed. The last time al-Abadi appeared before parliament, in April, lawmakers hurled insults and called his leadership illegitimate.