Iraqi cleric Sadr quits politics, supporters storm government palace - GulfToday

Iraqi cleric Sadr quits politics, supporters storm government palace

  • 29 Aug 2022
Muqtada Al-Sadr attends a news conference in Najaf, Iraq. Reuters

Iraqi cleric Moqtada Al Sadr attends a press conference. File photo

Gulf Today Report

In a surprise move on Monday Iraq's powerful cleric, Moqtada Al Sadr announced that he is quitting politics.

Moments after Sadr announced the decision, hundreds of his supporters stormed a government palace, a building inside highly-secured Green Zone of Baghdad that also houses diplomatic missions.

Fearing violence, the Iraqi army imposed a total curfew in Baghdad starting from 3:30pm.

Iraqis-strom-Palace-750x450Supporters of Moqtada Al Sadr protest inside the Republican Palace in the Green Zone in Baghdad on Monday. Reuters

According to reports, once inside the palace the protesters, some of them waving Iraqi flag, took selfies while resting on armchairs.

Some enjoyed the cool water s of the pool inside the palace.

READ MORE

Pakistan providing airspace for US drones: Afghan minister

Pakistan monsoon flooding death toll rises to 1,061

Political stalemate in the country has left it without a new government, prime minister or president.

Sadr, grey-bearded preacher, who once led Iraqi militias against US and Iraqi forces after the fall of Saddam Hussein, announced his decision to quit politics on his twitter handle.

In the tweet he said that he has decided not to interfere in political affairs.

He also announced closure of all the institutions linked to his Sadrist movement  except his father’s mausoleum.

His father was, assassinated in 1999.

 

Related articles

Iraqi lawmakers fail to elect president for a second time

Only 202 lawmakers arrived to Iraq's parliament, falling short of the two-thirds quorum required for the 329-member legislature to conduct an electoral session to select the country's president.

26 Mar 2022

Fighting in Iraqi capital leaves 30 dead after Sadr quits politics

Overnight, shelling targeted the high-security Green Zone that houses government buildings and diplomatic missions, a security source said, amid angry protests after Sadr's surprise announcement.

30 Aug 2022

Political deadlock continues in Iraq

It is not clear how the Al-Sadr blocking vacating the seats will facilitate the formation of a government. According to the election law, if a member vacates his or her seat in parliament, the person with the next high number of votes will get the seat.

15 Jun 2022

Hundreds camp at Iraqi parliament for second day

The health ministry said at least 100 protesters and 25 security personnel were hurt in the confrontation. Nearly 10 months after October elections, Iraq is still without a new government despite intense negotiations between factions.

31 Jul 2022

Most Popular Stories

Other Articles

Emaar will repair all rain-damaged homes free of charge: Chairman

Prominent Emirati businessman Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor said he would donate more than $4 million to assist Emirati nationals in repairing damaged homes.

28 minutes ago

Two Asian women die of suffocation in Sharjah flooded car

Al Shamsi explained that the vehicle, which had to stop due to the huge puddles of water on Al Ittihad Street, was heading from Dubai to Sharjah, with four people on board: two men and two women.

an hour ago

Indians vote in the first phase of the world's largest election as Modi seeks a third term

Surveys suggest Modi's BJP will easily win a majority even though voters have serious concerns about unemployment, inflation. People began queuing up at polling stations hours before they were allowed in at 7am in the first 21 states to hold votes...

an hour ago

Fossils of colossal snake Vasuki unearthed in India mine

Scientists said they have recovered 27 vertebrae from the snake, including a few still in the same position as they would have been when the limbless reptile was alive and might have been longer than a school bus and weighed a tonne.

2 hours ago