Middle East
Iraq: Thousands of Sadr supporters stage Baghdad protests
Senior police officer says no incidents of violence
18.03.2016 - Update : 22.03.2016
Supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr gather for civil disobedience action against Iraqi Government's prohibition for Protest in Country at the entrence of Green zone in Baghdad, Iraq on March 18, 2016. ( Haydar Hadi - Anadolu Agency )
Iraq
By Ali Jawad
BAGHDAD
Thousands of supporters of Iraqi Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr held protests on Friday at the entrance of Baghdad’s Green Zone, a central area that houses a number of critical government buildings.
Protesters said they came from across the country to press for accelerating anti-corruption reforms. A senior police officer told Anadolu Agency there were no incidents of violence on Friday.
The influential Shia leader wants Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to reshuffle his cabinet and form a “technocrat” government.
Last month, Sadr gave Abadi a 45-day deadline to present the names of technocrats for a new government and threatened to storm the Green Zone if his demands were not met.
