the president Iraq, Barham Salehadvocated on Tuesday for advancing legislative elections to overcome a political crisis that has led to clashes that have left 30 dead and hundreds injured among supporters of the Shiite leader. Muqtada Sadr and security forces.
The idea of advancing elections less than a year after the start of the current legislature was the demand of a Shia cleric. Muqtada Sadrwhose supporters clashed with the army after their leader unexpectedly announced his retirement from politics on Monday.
“The holding of early elections based on national consensus represents a way out of this grave crisis,” President Saleh said in his speech. According to the President, this option would guarantee “political and social stability.”
Saleh spoke hours after Sadr’s supporters withdrew from Green Zone of Baghdad, after 24 hours of clashes with the army and Iranian-backed Shiite groups.
According to the latest medical report, 30 followers of a Shiite cleric were shot dead and 570 injured in these clashes.
Sadr, who led a militia opposed to the invasion of Iraq led by USA in March 2003, he gave his supporters “60 minutes” to leave Green Zonewhich houses embassies and government offices and is considered the safest in the capital.
“I apologize to the Iraqi people, the only people affected by the events,” Sadr told reporters from his stronghold in the Iraqi city. Najaf.
The clashes are the culmination of the crisis that Iraq is going through since the legislative elections in October 2021, of which parliament fragmented. Since then, political leaders have failed to appoint a new prime minister or create a new government.
The United States also called for calm amid “alarming” reports of the situation, while France urged “the parties to exercise maximum restraint.” | Font: AFP
dangerous climb
Protests erupted when Sadr announced his “final retirement” from politics. His supporters took to Green Zone and broke into the government palace.
Clashes continued on Tuesday between Sadr’s supporters against the army and fighters from People’s mobilization detachments (Hashed al-Shaabi), former paramilitaries supported by Tehranwhich were later integrated into the Iraqi forces.
United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) described the events as “an extremely dangerous escalation” and called on all parties to “refrain from actions that could lead to an unstoppable chain of events.”
community power
The United States also called for calm amid “alarming” reports of the situation and France he asked “the parties to exercise the utmost restraint”.
In the October 2021 parliamentary elections, the bloc Sadr He finished first with 73 out of 329 seats. But failing to form a majority, he forced his deputies to resign in June, saying he wanted to “reform” the system and end “corruption.”
The resignation led to Coordinating structurerival alliance, became the main assembly.
By inciting his supporters and then urging them to step down, Sadr is “demonstrating his social power and base, especially to his opponents,” he said. Renad Mansour, British think tank Chatham House.
(According to AFP)
Source: RPP
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