Without reforms, protests threaten to escalate in Iraq
Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr led massive protests in Baghdad last week, and demonstrations are likely to continue until progress is made on the government reforms he demands.
BAGHDAD — Thousands of supporters of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and the civil movement in Baghdad returned to the streets recently to protest delays in reforming a government they say is corrupt and unable to protect its people.
All political channels for reform seem to have reached a dead end in light of the continuing division among political blocs in parliament. During the massive protest July 15 in Tahrir (Liberation) Square in the Iraqi capital, Sadr urged demonstrators to keep protesting until their demands are met.
