Only security forces were inside the building and appeared to allow the protesters to enter with relative ease. Many were followers of an influential cleric and some were seen walking on tables and waving Iraqi flags. The breach comes amid the biggest protest since Iraqi elections were held in October. The protesters protested the recent appointment of Mohammed al-Sudani as the official candidate of the Coordination Framework bloc, a coalition led by Iran-backed Shiite parties and their allies. Image: Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada al Sadr gather during an anti-corruption protest in Baghdad Earlier Wednesday, protesters breached Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone. Police used water cannons to push back protesters who tore down walls with concrete. But many breached the gates of the area, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies. Protesters walked down the main street of the zone, with dozens gathering outside the doors of the parliament building. Caretaker Prime Minister Mustafa al-Qadimi called for calm and restraint and for protesters to “withdraw immediately” from the area. The protesters were largely supporters of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr, who recently resigned from the political process despite winning the most seats in October’s federal election. The protesters carried portraits of the cleric. In 2016, supporters of al-Sadr stormed parliament in a similar fashion. They staged a sit-in and demanded political reform after then-Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi tried to replace ministers affiliated with the party with technocrats in an anti-corruption drive. Mr al Sudani was chosen by Rule of Law leader and former prime minister Nouri al Maliki. Before Mr al Sudani faces parliament to be formally nominated as prime minister, the parties must first choose a president. Mr al-Sadr walked out of talks to form a government after failing to convince enough lawmakers to choose him as Iraq’s next president. Replacing his lawmakers, the Plaisio leader pushed to form the next government. Many fear it also opens the door to street protests organized by Mr al Sadr’s big supporters and instability.
