- In the Iraqi capital Baghdad, demonstrators have again entered the parliament building.
- According to the Ministry of Health, at least 60 people were injured.
- Supporters of the influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed parliament on Wednesday.
As eyewitnesses reported, security forces tried to push back the numerous supporters of al-Sadr at the heavily secured Green Zone with tear gas. Numerous government institutions and the Iraqi parliament as well as several embassies, including the US diplomatic mission, are located in the approximately ten square kilometer Green Zone in the center of Baghdad.
Fierce power struggle
During the first storming of parliament on Wednesday, television images showed people in the chamber waving the Iraqi flag before withdrawing a short time later. Among other things, they demonstrated against the nomination of former minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani for the post of prime minister. This was proposed by ex-Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his alliance, which sympathizes with neighboring Iran. Both Shia camps see each other as opponents.
Legend:
Demonstrators stormed parliament on Wednesday.
Reuters/Ahmed Saad
A power struggle has been raging in Iraq since the parliamentary elections in October 2021. Al-Sadr’s list had won the most seats at the time and was trying to form a government. Most recently, however, he and his party resigned from parliament. According to experts, al-Sadr’s particular strength lies in his ability to mobilize crowds. Some observers therefore interpreted his withdrawal from politics as a move to put parties and politicians under pressure. Many Iraqis now have little faith in politics after the oil-rich country has been struggling with economic and political crises for years.