Police fired a barrage of tear gas in an attempt to prevent protesters from breaching the gates of the heavily fortified Green Zone, but crowds spilled out and entered parliament. “I am against the corrupt officials who are in power,” said protester Muhammad Ali, a 41-year-old day laborer, one of hundreds who entered the zone that houses government buildings and diplomatic missions, before later leaving peacefully. . Protesters gathered inside the Iraqi parliament building after storming the so-called “Green Zone”. Photo: Ahmed Jalil/EPA The protests are the latest challenge for oil-rich Iraq, which remains mired in a political and socioeconomic crisis despite soaring global energy prices. Sadr’s bloc emerged from elections in October as the largest parliamentary faction, but was still far from a majority and, nine months on, deadlock remains over forming a new government. Crowds wandered around the parliament building waving national flags, taking pictures, shouting and cheering. Prime Minister Mustafa al-Qademi called on the protesters to “withdraw immediately”, warning that security forces would ensure “the protection of state institutions and foreign missions and prevent any harm to security and order”. But it took orders issued by Shiite leader Sadr before crowds of protesters began to leave nearly two hours later. “Revolution of reform and rejection of injustice and corruption,” Sadr tweeted, supporting the protesters. “Your message has been heard … you have terrorized the corrupt,” he added, calling on the protesters to say a prayer “before they return home safe and sound.” “We obey Sayyed,” chanted the crowds as they calmly left parliament, a term honoring Sadr by recognizing him as a descendant of the prophet Mohammed. Supporters of Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr were seen inside the parliament building in Baghdad. Photo: Ahmed Saad/Reuters Sadr’s bloc won 73 seats in last year’s election, making it the largest faction in the 329-seat parliament. But after the vote, talks on forming a new government have stalled. The protesters oppose the candidacy of Mohammad al-Sudani, a former minister and former governor of the province, who is the choice of the pro-Iranian Coordination Framework for prime minister. The Coordination Framework draws lawmakers from former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki’s party and the pro-Iranian Fatah alliance, the political arm of the former Shiite-led Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary group. “I am against Sudan’s candidacy, because he is corrupt,” added protester Muhammad Ali. “We reject the whole political process,” said Bashar, a protester in parliament, giving only his first name. “We want an independent person who will serve the people.” Iraq was plunged deeper into political crisis last month when Sadr’s 73 MPs resigned en masse. Sadr had initially championed the idea of a “majority government” that would send his Shiite rivals from the Coordination Group into opposition. The former militia leader then surprised many by forcing his lawmakers to resign, a move seen as seeking to pressure his opponents to speed up the formation of a government. Sixty-four new MPs were sworn in later in June, making the pro-Iran bloc the largest in parliament. Iraqi security forces stand guard as protesters attempt to storm the Green Zone. Photo: Ahmed Jalil/EPA Earlier this month, hundreds of thousands of Sadr’s Muslim followers attended a Friday prayer in Baghdad in a show of political power. The huge turnout came despite the heat and the Shiite cleric not being there in person – a sign of his status as a political heavyweight as well as a key religious authority.
