Supporters of Iraqi Moqtada Al Sadr protest against corruption outside the Parliament in Baghdad. Reuters

Iraqi security forces used tear gas and sound bombs to try to repel the demonstrators. An expected parliament session did not take place and there were no lawmakers in the hall.

READ MORE

US House passes bill to ban assault weapons

Wildfire burning in western Montana forces evacuations

Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi directed security forces to protect demonstrators and asked them to keep their protest peaceful.

Supporters of Moqtada Al Sadr pull down a concrete barrier during a protest in Baghdad, Iraq. Reuters

Iraqi security forces hurled gas canisters and used sound bombs to disperse the thousands of Iraqi demonstrators, the followers of an influential cleric, in the heavily fortified government zone of the capital on Saturday.

One by one, demonstrators used ropes to pull down cement barricades leading to the gate of Iraq's Green Zone, which houses official buildings and foreign embassies. They had come to protest the formation of the next government by Iran-backed parties.

Associated Press