Protesters breach Baghdad’s parliament to protest against Prime Minister’s nomination in Iraq | World News
Hundreds of Iraqi protesters stormed Baghdad’s parliament building during a protest against Iran-backed parties’ selection of prime ministerial candidates.
Only security forces were inside the building and they appeared to allow protesters to enter with relative ease.
Many were followers of an influential cleric and some were seen walking across the table waving Iraqis flag.
The breach comes amid the biggest protests since Iraqi elections were held in October.
Protesters protested the recent nomination of Mohammed al-Sudani as the official candidate of the Coordination Framework, a coalition led by Iran-backed Shiite parties and their allies.
Some protesters were seen walking on tables and waving Iraqi flags
Earlier on Wednesday, protesters violated BaghdadThe green zone is heavily fortified.
Riot police used water cannons to push back protesters who pulled down the cement walls.
But many broke through the gates to the area, home to government buildings and foreign embassies.
Protesters walked down the main thoroughfare of the area, with dozens gathering outside the entrance to the parliament building.
Caretaker’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi called for calm and restraint, and asked protesters to “immediately withdraw” from the area.
The protesters are largely followers of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who recently resigned from politics despite winning the most seats in October’s federal elections.
Protesters carry portraits of clerics.
Riot police used water cannons on people trying to pull down the cement blast wall
In 2016, al-Sadr supporters stormed parliament in a similar fashion.
They held a meeting and made demands for political reform after then-prime minister Haidar al-Abadi sought to replace party ministers with technocrats in an anti-corruption campaign.
Mr. al-Sudani was selected by the head of the State of Law and former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.
Before al-Sudani can face parliament to be formally appointed to the prime ministerial seat, the parties must first choose a president.
Mr. al-Sadr walked out of government formation talks after failing to convince enough lawmakers to choose him as Iraq’s next president.
By replacing his legislators, the Framework leader pushed for the formation of the next government.
Many fear doing so also opens the door to street protests organized and destabilized by Mr. al-Sadr.
