Foreign
Iraqi Shia leader urges lawmakers’ strike until gov’t responds to protests in Baghdad
(Sputnik/NAN) The leader of the Iraqi Shia and the head of the Sairoon parliamentary bloc, Muqtada al-Sadr, called upon Sairoon lawmakers on Friday to halt their activities in parliament until the government responded to the demands of protesters in Baghdad.
Media reports on Friday said that Sadr urged the lawmakers from Sairoon, the largest party in the Iraqi parliament, to “not attend the parliament sessions unless the government issues a plan of action that would respond to the demands of people”.
The Shafaq news agency reported that the Iraqi Shia leader called upon lawmakers from other parties to “follow this lead”.
The call comes ahead of an emergency meeting of the Iraqi parliament, scheduled to take place on Saturday.
The Prime minister and other cabinet officials responsible for security may attend the meeting.
The Iraqi capital and southern regions have been marred in violent protests since Tuesday.
Protesters are demanding the ouster of the government, as well as economic reforms and the end of corruption.
On Thursday, a curfew was declared and internet access halted in Baghdad and five southern provinces.
So far, at least 40 people were killed and 272 detained due to violence during the protests. (Sputnik/NAN)
(NAN)
Edited by Emmanuel Yashim
