Baghdad 30 Aug : At eleven people were killed when violence broke out in Baghdad’s Green Zone when followers of Moqtada al Sadr, a prominent cleric in Iraq took over the palace of the government.Up to 160 people also suffered injuries in the violence, the dpa news agency reported according to a medical source.
Iraqi military forces fired tear gas to force demonstrators out of the palace of the government which includes the office of the prime minister and the fortified area which houses diplomatic buildings as well as government offices.
An overwhelming number of protesters were forced away from the Green Zone and gathered there.
Witnesses reported that they continued to hear gunshots within the Green Zone later in the evening.
The latest developments only add to the impasse in the country, and come only a month following Sadrist protesters attacked the building of the parliament.
The legislative sessions have been suspended since then.
Shiite populist religious leader al-Sadr announced on Monday he quit politics and shutting down his institutions and offices, with the exception of religious ones.
“I announce my final retirement [from politics,” he said on his Twitter account.”If I die or get killed, I ask for your prayers.”
His followers went towards the Green Zone shortly afterwards and began to tear down concrete barriers that would let more people into the zone, despite a strong security presence.
Some carried images of al-Sadr, while others shouted: “The people want to overthrow the regime.”
A video posted on social media shows Sadrist protesters stepping into the palace of the government while they chanted “peaceful peaceful.”
A protester informed the media agency that protesters had been walking around the palace’s halls and offices and others took an exercise at the pool in the courtyard of the palace.
A nationwide curfew has been enforced.
Al-Sadr has a significant role in the political arena.
He has never held any political posts However, the Sadrist group that is associated with his won the highest amount of seats in the last elections.However, they did not have the majority needed to create an official government.
Since the political forces have been unable to form a new government , or select the president in more than 10 months after the elections in parliament, al-Sadr told his lawmakers to leave the parliament and demanded that elections be held earlier.
He has many supporters and his ability to mobilize hundreds of thousands across the nation could result in violent attacks if opposing groups urge their supporters to join in protest.
On Monday night an aide to al-Sadr told the media that the cleric had has decided to begin an unofficial hunger strike until the violence ceases.
In the aftermath to the prime minister’s remarks, Mustafa al-Kadhimi said he valued the call of al-Sadr to end the violence.
“I would like to encourage everyone to take responsibility as a nation to preserve Iraqi blood,” al-Kadhimi said.
He also directed an inquiry into the incident, and barred the security forces from firing live ammunition at protesters.
int/shs
