Iraqi cleric orders end to violence after 20 killed
PROTESTERS loyal to a prominent Shia cleric began withdrawing from Baghdad’s green zone yesterday, following intense clashes with security forces and militia groups that killed at least 20 people and injured hundreds.
Followers of Moqtada al-sadr, one of Iraq’s most influential figures, rushed into the green zone to demonstrate after he announced he was retiring from politics on Monday.
Protesters battled with Iraqi security forces and armed militia groups in the green zone – the “international area” of Baghdad and the seat of the Iraqi government – and also forced their way into the presidential palace.
Video footage showed unidentified men firing RPG launchers and machine guns, while at least four missiles were fired into the green zone, according to Iraqi officials.
Yesterday, Mr Sadr called on the protesters to withdraw and apologised for the bloodshed. “This is not a revolution because it has lost its peaceful character,” Mr Sadr said at a press conference, adding: “I apologise to the Iraqi people – the only ones affected by the events.”
Witnesses said the protesters were withdrawing from the area as of yesterday afternoon, although there were sporadic reports of gunfire.
Iraqi authorities praised Mr Sadr for his speech and lifted a nationwide curfew that was imposed after the fighting began on Monday afternoon.
Before the speech, Iran closed its border with Iraq, urged citizens not to visit the country and flights were halted. Iraqi medics said more than 20 Sadr followers were killed during the clashes, however some reports said the toll had risen beyond 30 as of yesterday afternoon.
A charismatic figure, Mr Sadr is a nationalist who opposes both Western and Iranian influence over Iraq, and controls thousands of militia fighters as well as millions of followers.