28 September 2022
Supporters of Iraq’s influential Shia religious leader Muqtada al-Sadr have attempted to storm Baghdad’s Green Zone government area as the Iraqi parliament holds a session on the resignation of its speaker.
Sadr supporters attempted to advance past security forces guarding the parliament on Wednesday, before being confronted by riot police.
Iraqi state media also reported in the afternoon that three Katyusha rockets had fallen on the Green Zone.
Al Jazeera’s Ali Hashem, reporting from the area earlier, said that the protesters threw stones at security forces, and added that they were trying to make their way to the parliament.
“The speaker of the parliament is leaving the alliance with Muqtada al-Sadr and joining the rival alliance. People here are trying to prevent the parliament session from convening,” he said.
“Supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr feel betrayed right now because the rivals …. are trying to form a new coalition,” he also said. “A new prime minister will be named and this is what they do not want.”
Al Jazeera’s live footage showed intense clashes between the protesters and security forces as well as a few lightly wounded demonstrators.
