Supporters of influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr clashed with police during a demonstration on September 28 on the Jumhuriya Bridge leading to Baghdad’s Green Zone.
Image: dpa
A rocket attack on Baghdad’s Green Zone leaves seven injured. Further violent protests by supporters of the Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in Iraq resulted in injured civilians and security forces.
Dhe power struggle in Iraq continues to escalate: according to security forces, seven people were injured in a rocket attack on the highly secured Green Zone in Iraq’s capital Baghdad. A Katyusha rocket also landed near the parliament building, the state news agency INA reported on Wednesday. Eleven civilians and more than a hundred security forces were injured during protests in the city, security forces said. Hundreds of supporters of the influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr demonstrated to block a parliamentary session.
The deputies should decide on the resignation of the head of parliament, Mohammed al-Halbusi, who is close to al-Sadr. Al-Sadr has been engaged in a power struggle with his Shiite competitors, who are allied with Iran, for months. The oil-rich country has been without a government since the parliamentary elections almost a year ago. After clashes in Baghdad, some of which were deadly, al-halbusi and al-saddr called for the dissolution of parliament and renewed elections. Al-Sadr’s opponents, on the other hand, invoke the constitution and demand that a government be formed.
Because al-Sadr was unable to achieve a majority in parliament for his goals, he relies on pressure from the streets. Violent clashes have repeatedly broken out during protests in Iraq. Parliament suspended its work in July after protesters stormed the Parliament building.
According to eyewitnesses, several demonstrators threw stones at security forces on Wednesday. Demonstrators are said to have been injured in the clashes. Meanwhile, the members of parliament expressed their confidence in Parliament leader Al-halbusi.
