Iraqi security forces set up concrete barriers on next Monday of Counter-protests planned by Shiite political opponents against Influential Cleric followers staged a parliament sitting-in for The third day in a row.
Many feared that the feuding protests might escalate tensions.
calls for The counter-protest came from a political alliance of Iranian-backed groups opposed to the open sit-inin inside Iraq parliament by followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Prospect of Opposition demonstrations have raised concerns of A deepening political crisis. The Iraqi political sphere has been suffering from a vacuum since the federal elections in October.
Counter-protest has been called for By coordinating framework, an alliance lead By Shiite parties close to Iran, it is scheduled to take place Monday afternoon. Alliance instructed participants To gather around the 14th of July Bridge in Baghdad, which leads to the heavily fortified Green Zone where the parliament Live.
Forbid the alliance participants From entering the area, directing them to ‘Wait for Instructions with the chest followersbut open the possibility of drawn-out Demonstrations in impasse against the chest.
Alliance also Call for Its supporters respect the state security forces and carry Iraqi flags. Security forces erected concrete walls to serve as a barrier and dam off The walkway from the bridge to the green area.
The announcement This came after Al-Sadr issued a statement late Sunday in which he called for Revolution and political change system the constitution and the abolition of its rivals while encouraging the Iraqi tribes to do so join for him. for him opponents I realized this message as call for a coup.
Cracks appeared inside the leadership of framework, with Some members are unwilling to participate and contact for self-control. Others pay for escalation.
Chest’s main competitor, former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced head of The framework alliance and Shiite leader Qais Khazali seem to be like this leading Pay for protests. Meanwhile, the Fatah Alliance head Two Shiite political officials said Hadi al-Amiri urges control and moderation. they talked on condition of Anonymity in Line with systems.
Kataib Hezbollah, another Iran-backed militia groupshe has also Suggest that he will not participate.
If protests escalate, it will be the closest followers of Al-Sadr and Al-Maliki will have a confrontation since 2008 when he started former prime minister lead Iraqi army drive The cleric’s former militia, the Mahdi Army, out of southern city of Basra.
the two menBoth powerful in Their right to bitterness enemies since then.
Sadr loyalists continued their sit-in.in for the third day. Thousands stormed among them parliament on Saturday, for The second time in Extension of week. This time, they did not disperse peacefully.
