Crowds of angry protesters loyal to powerful cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have stormed the secure zone where government buildings are located despite security forces using tear gas and water cannons to disperse them.
Protesters then stormed the parliament, according to the Iraqi state news agency (INA). Videos circulating on social media appeared to show people waving the Iraqi flag walking past security at the parliament gates.
At least 125 people have been injured, including 100 civilians and 25 military personnel, according to the country’s Ministry of Health.
The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) described the recent escalation of tensions as “deeply worrying”.
“Voices of reason and wisdom are critical to preventing further violence. All actors are encouraged to de-escalate in the interest of all Iraqis,” UNAMI said in a tweet.
Outgoing Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi, who is currently the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has appealed for peace and for protesters “not to escalate the situation”.
In a statement on Saturday, he called on the protesters to obey the orders of the security forces, stressing that the security forces “have a duty to protect official institutions and stressed the need to take all legal measures to maintain the order”.
The protests began after Mohammed Shiya al-Sudani was officially appointed on Monday to lead the country by the Coordination Framework, the largest Shiite alliance in the Iraqi parliament.
His nomination followed the mass resignation of al-Sadr’s parliamentary bloc, a group of more than 70 lawmakers who quit the governing body last month in an apparent show of force after months of ‘political stagnation.
Iraq has struggled to form a new government since parliamentary elections in October; Sadr’s own attempts to form a government have previously failed amid opposition from rival blocs.
“If the Sadrist block remains [in parliament] is an obstacle to the formation of the government, then all the lawmakers of the bloc are willing to honorably resign from parliament,” Sadr said in a televised speech in June.
The cleric, who stands against both Iran and the United States, is immensely popular. His bloc’s success in the October vote threatened to sideline Iran-aligned Shiite blocs that have long dominated the oil-rich country’s politics.
On Wednesday, al-Sadr told protesters at the Parliament building that his “message” had been received and they should go home.
“A revolution of reform and rejection of injustice and corruption. Your message has been received. You have terrified the corrupt. Pray and come home safely,” he tweeted.
Prime Minister al-Kadhimi’s outgoing government also issued a statement calling on Sadrist protesters to “immediately withdraw from the Green Zone,” preserve public and private property, and obey the instructions of security forces.
“The security forces will be committed to protecting state institutions and international missions, and preventing any disruption of security and order,” al-Kadhimi added.
Aqeel Najim reported from Baghdad, Hamdi Alkhshali reported from Atlanta and Eyad Kourdi reported from Gaziantep. Obaida Nafaa in Dubai and Alex Stambaugh in Hong Kong contributed to the report. Ivana Kottasová wrote in London.