Iraqis storm parliament to protest against PM nominee

HUNDREDS of Iraqis stormed Baghdad’s parliament building yesterday in a demonstration against a nominee for prime minister selected by Iran-backed parties.

The protest took place as Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Iranian Quds Force, arrived in Baghdad to discuss government formation.

Many demonstrators carried portraits of the influential cleric Muqtada al-sadr, a staunch nationalist.

Despite riot police deploying water cannons, protesters breached the Green Zone using a crane to remove concrete barriers to the heavily fortified area that contains the US embassy, before proceeding to the parliament. Protesters chanted, “Sudani, out!” in opposition to former minister of labour and social affairs, Mohammed Shia al-sudani, who was nominated for the premiership by the largest bloc in parliament, the proiran Coordination Framework.

Mr Sudani was selected by the former premier Nouri al-maliki. Before he can face parliament to be seated officially as prime minister-designate, parties must first select a president.

The protests were the biggest since federal elections in October, since which time politicians have failed to form a government.

Inside the parliament protesters were filmed walking on tables and waving Iraqi flags.

No lawmakers were present, and security forces appeared to allow the protesters in with relative ease.

Sadr, who sent a short message thanking protesters, gave his blessing for them “to withdraw or to stay in the Green Zone”. The cleric recently stepped down from the political process despite having won the most seats in the October election.

The cleric exited government formation talks after he was not able to corral enough lawmakers to get the majority required to elect Iraq’s next president. He has previously demonstrated his ability to mobilise mass street protests, and many fear his large grass roots following could again lead to instability.