Hundreds of protesters have breached Iraq’s parliament for the second time this week.
The protesters, who are followers of an influential Shiite cleric, are demonstrating against the formation of the next government by Iran-backed parties.
Iraqi security forces used tear gas and sound bombs to try to repel the protesters. The expected session of Parliament did not take place and there were no legislators in the room.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi ordered security forces to protect the protesters and asked them to keep their protest peaceful.
Security forces fired gas canisters and used sound bombs to disperse the thousands of Iraqi protesters in the heavily fortified government zone of the capital.
Protesters used ropes to pull down cement barricades leading to the gate of Iraq’s Green Zone, which houses official buildings and foreign embassies.
“We came today to eliminate the corrupt political class and prevent them from holding a session of parliament, and to prevent the Framework from forming a government,” said 41-year-old Raad Thabet. “We have answered al-Sadr’s call. We will go to the Green (Zone). No matter the cost.”
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The protesters are supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr, who called the demonstrations against the formation of the next government by political groups backed by Iran. Al-Sadr’s party walked out of government formation talks in June, giving its rivals in the Coordination Framework alliance the majority they needed to move forward with the process.
Many protesters wore black to mark the days leading up to Ashura, which commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and one of the most important figures in Shiite Islam. Al-Sadr’s messages to his followers have used the important day in Shiite Islam to spark protests.
Al-Sadr has used his large grassroots following as leverage against his rivals.
On Wednesday, hundreds of his supporters stormed the parliament building after the Marc alliance named Mohammed al-Sudani as its presidential candidate and expressed readiness to form a government despite his threats.