Iraqi Sadrist protesters storm parliament
Sadrist protesters stormed parliament today, rejecting the formation of the government under the premiership of Muhammad Shia Sudani, who was nominated recently by a rival Shia colaition.
Hundreds of protesters, many of them followers of influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, gathered in Tahrir Square early this evening and then moved toward the Green Zone where the majority of government buildings and foreign ministries are located. The number of protesters increased significantly in a short amount of time, backed by cranes that destroyed the cement walls in front of the Green Zone gate next to the Foreign Ministry.
They entered the area quickly and stormed parliament. Photos and videos of Sadrist protesters chanting inside parliament circulated on social media. Protesters raised Sadr's and his father’s photos and chanted for change to the entire political system.
This came a few hours after parliament received a letter from the Coordination Framework (CF) requesting a session to select the president.
The CF last week nominated Mohammad Shia Sudani for the prime minister position.
