Iraq’s Sadr suspends planned protest amid tension over gov’t formation
BAGHDAD (AA) – Influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has postponed a planned mass protest in Iraq on Saturday until further notice.
“I announce that the Saturday protest has been postponed until further notice,” al-Sadr said in a statement.
“The people will continue their sit-in,” he, however, added.
The firebrand cleric had called on his supporters to rally on Saturday in the capital Baghdad and other provinces amid tension over the formation of a new government.
Al-Sadr’s supporters staged protests in recent days following the nomination of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani as the new prime minister by the Coordination Framework, a coalition of groups close to Iran.
The Shia cleric has called for the dissolution of the Iraqi Parliament and holding early elections.
In June, 73 lawmakers of al-Sadr’s movement resigned from the 329-seat Parliament after failing to form a “national majority” government, as the Coordination Framework hampered the cabinet formation.
Iraq has been in a political deadlock for nine months following the country’s general elections last October.
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