Hundreds of people stormed the city’s Green Belt, sparking clashes with security forces after Mr al-Sadr announced his resignation from Iraq politics and ordered the closure of his party’s offices. Several protesters were wounded by gunfire and a dozen others were injured by tear gas and clashes with police, medical officials said. Image: Followers of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr retreated from the streets after his appeal At least 22 people have been killed, officials said. Mr al-Sadr told worshipers to leave the government quarter within an hour and minutes after the speech, people could be seen leaving. “This is not a revolution,” the cleric said in a televised sermon, which followed calls for restraint and peace from Iraqi officials and the United Nations. In response to the riots, a nationwide curfew was announced at 7pm, but was lifted on Tuesday. Al-Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in parliamentary elections in October, but not enough to secure a majority government. As a result, the country was plunged into political uncertainty with Mr al-Sadr refusing to negotiate with his Iranian-backed Shiite rivals and walking out of talks.

Analysis

          Alex Rossi

International Correspondent @alexrossiSKY Where the political chaos is headed after powerful and controversial Shiite leader Muqtada Al-Sadr announced his retirement from politics is hard to predict. His supporters are still protesting in the streets, where clashes with security services continue – at least 22 are dead. The powerful cleric’s sudden announcement saw hundreds of his followers take to the streets where they breached the Green Belt. On Tuesday, he told his followers to leave the government apartments within an hour and minutes later some were seen leaving. Political paralysis has gripped the country since elections last October and an interim government has been put in place. Mr al-Sadr won the largest share of seats, but there are extremely deep rifts with rival Shiite parties – loyal to Iran – which hold most of the other seats. He had tried to form a coalition with minority parties, breaking with the tradition that government formation consists of the main political players. In doing so, he was trying to sideline his main Shiite rival, former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is aligned with Iranian factions. Street protests are not uncommon in Iraq, but there is nervousness about where this unrest could lead. Click here to read more Read more: Protesters breach Baghdad parliament to protest Iraq prime minister appointment His resignation appears to be a reaction to the departure of Shiite spiritual leader Ayatollah Qadim al-Khairi, who is followed by many of the cleric’s supporters. During Monday’s protests, hundreds of people pulled down concrete barriers outside the government building, breached its defenses, and many of them rushed into the building’s marble halls. Pictures show dozens of protesters swimming in the palace pool, with some holding up a picture of Mr al-Sadr

title: “Iraqi Cleric Muqtada Al Sadr Calls On Supporters To Leave Baghdad S Government District Within An Hour Of Protests Global News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-11” author: “Gabriel Martin”

Hundreds of people stormed the city’s Green Belt, sparking clashes with security forces after Mr al-Sadr announced his resignation from Iraq politics and ordered the closure of his party’s offices. Several protesters were wounded by gunfire and a dozen others were injured by tear gas and clashes with police, medical officials said. Image: Followers of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr retreated from the streets after his appeal At least 22 people have been killed, officials said. Mr al-Sadr told worshipers to leave the government quarter within an hour and minutes after the speech, people could be seen leaving. “This is not a revolution,” the cleric said in a televised sermon, which followed calls for restraint and peace from Iraqi officials and the United Nations. In response to the riots, a nationwide curfew was announced at 7pm, but was lifted on Tuesday. Al-Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in parliamentary elections in October, but not enough to secure a majority government. As a result, the country was plunged into political uncertainty with Mr al-Sadr refusing to negotiate with his Iranian-backed Shiite rivals and walking out of talks.

Analysis

          Alex Rossi

International Correspondent @alexrossiSKY Where the political chaos is headed after powerful and controversial Shiite leader Muqtada Al-Sadr announced his retirement from politics is hard to predict. His supporters are still protesting in the streets, where clashes with security services continue – at least 22 are dead. The powerful cleric’s sudden announcement saw hundreds of his followers take to the streets where they breached the Green Belt. On Tuesday, he told his followers to leave the government apartments within an hour and minutes later some were seen leaving. Political paralysis has gripped the country since elections last October and an interim government has been put in place. Mr al-Sadr won the largest share of seats, but there are extremely deep rifts with rival Shiite parties – loyal to Iran – which hold most of the other seats. He had tried to form a coalition with minority parties, breaking with the tradition that government formation consists of the main political players. In doing so, he was trying to sideline his main Shiite rival, former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is aligned with Iranian factions. Street protests are not uncommon in Iraq, but there is nervousness about where this unrest could lead. Click here to read more Read more: Protesters breach Baghdad parliament to protest Iraq prime minister appointment His resignation appears to be a reaction to the departure of Shiite spiritual leader Ayatollah Qadim al-Khairi, who is followed by many of the cleric’s supporters. During Monday’s protests, hundreds of people pulled down concrete barriers outside the government building, breached its defenses, and many of them rushed into the building’s marble halls. Pictures show dozens of protesters swimming in the palace pool, with some holding up a picture of Mr al-Sadr

title: “Iraqi Cleric Muqtada Al Sadr Calls On Supporters To Leave Baghdad S Government District Within An Hour Of Protests Global News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-13” author: “Harry Solomon”

Hundreds of people stormed the city’s Green Belt, sparking clashes with security forces after Mr al-Sadr announced his resignation from Iraq politics and ordered the closure of his party’s offices. Several protesters were wounded by gunfire and a dozen others were injured by tear gas and clashes with police, medical officials said. Image: Followers of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr retreated from the streets after his appeal At least 22 people have been killed, officials said. Mr al-Sadr told worshipers to leave the government quarter within an hour and minutes after the speech, people could be seen leaving. “This is not a revolution,” the cleric said in a televised sermon, which followed calls for restraint and peace from Iraqi officials and the United Nations. In response to the riots, a nationwide curfew was announced at 7pm, but was lifted on Tuesday. Al-Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in parliamentary elections in October, but not enough to secure a majority government. As a result, the country was plunged into political uncertainty with Mr al-Sadr refusing to negotiate with his Iranian-backed Shiite rivals and walking out of talks.

Analysis

          Alex Rossi

International Correspondent @alexrossiSKY Where the political chaos is headed after powerful and controversial Shiite leader Muqtada Al-Sadr announced his retirement from politics is hard to predict. His supporters are still protesting in the streets, where clashes with security services continue – at least 22 are dead. The powerful cleric’s sudden announcement saw hundreds of his followers take to the streets where they breached the Green Belt. On Tuesday, he told his followers to leave the government apartments within an hour and minutes later some were seen leaving. Political paralysis has gripped the country since elections last October and an interim government has been put in place. Mr al-Sadr won the largest share of seats, but there are extremely deep rifts with rival Shiite parties – loyal to Iran – which hold most of the other seats. He had tried to form a coalition with minority parties, breaking with the tradition that government formation consists of the main political players. In doing so, he was trying to sideline his main Shiite rival, former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is aligned with Iranian factions. Street protests are not uncommon in Iraq, but there is nervousness about where this unrest could lead. Click here to read more Read more: Protesters breach Baghdad parliament to protest Iraq prime minister appointment His resignation appears to be a reaction to the departure of Shiite spiritual leader Ayatollah Qadim al-Khairi, who is followed by many of the cleric’s supporters. During Monday’s protests, hundreds of people pulled down concrete barriers outside the government building, breached its defenses, and many of them rushed into the building’s marble halls. Pictures show dozens of protesters swimming in the palace pool, with some holding up a picture of Mr al-Sadr

title: “Iraqi Cleric Muqtada Al Sadr Calls On Supporters To Leave Baghdad S Government District Within An Hour Of Protests Global News Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-15” author: “Johnnie Flores”

Hundreds of people stormed the city’s Green Belt, sparking clashes with security forces after Mr al-Sadr announced his resignation from Iraq politics and ordered the closure of his party’s offices. Several protesters were wounded by gunfire and a dozen others were injured by tear gas and clashes with police, medical officials said. Image: Followers of Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr retreated from the streets after his appeal At least 22 people have been killed, officials said. Mr al-Sadr told worshipers to leave the government quarter within an hour and minutes after the speech, people could be seen leaving. “This is not a revolution,” the cleric said in a televised sermon, which followed calls for restraint and peace from Iraqi officials and the United Nations. In response to the riots, a nationwide curfew was announced at 7pm, but was lifted on Tuesday. Al-Sadr’s party won the largest share of seats in parliamentary elections in October, but not enough to secure a majority government. As a result, the country was plunged into political uncertainty with Mr al-Sadr refusing to negotiate with his Iranian-backed Shiite rivals and walking out of talks.

Analysis

          Alex Rossi

International Correspondent @alexrossiSKY Where the political chaos is headed after powerful and controversial Shiite leader Muqtada Al-Sadr announced his retirement from politics is hard to predict. His supporters are still protesting in the streets, where clashes with security services continue – at least 22 are dead. The powerful cleric’s sudden announcement saw hundreds of his followers take to the streets where they breached the Green Belt. On Tuesday, he told his followers to leave the government apartments within an hour and minutes later some were seen leaving. Political paralysis has gripped the country since elections last October and an interim government has been put in place. Mr al-Sadr won the largest share of seats, but there are extremely deep rifts with rival Shiite parties – loyal to Iran – which hold most of the other seats. He had tried to form a coalition with minority parties, breaking with the tradition that government formation consists of the main political players. In doing so, he was trying to sideline his main Shiite rival, former prime minister Nuri al-Maliki, who is aligned with Iranian factions. Street protests are not uncommon in Iraq, but there is nervousness about where this unrest could lead. Click here to read more Read more: Protesters breach Baghdad parliament to protest Iraq prime minister appointment His resignation appears to be a reaction to the departure of Shiite spiritual leader Ayatollah Qadim al-Khairi, who is followed by many of the cleric’s supporters. During Monday’s protests, hundreds of people pulled down concrete barriers outside the government building, breached its defenses, and many of them rushed into the building’s marble halls. Pictures show dozens of protesters swimming in the palace pool, with some holding up a picture of Mr al-Sadr