BAGHDAD – Clashes erupted in Baghdad on Sunday as more protesters were prevented from entering the fortified Green Zone, where Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi and political leaders were planning to meet as Iraq slid toward greater turmoil, after thousands of protesters stormed the parliament building the previous afternoon. A massive security force was deployed outside the Green Zone, where two members of the security forces and several of the protesters who were prevented from getting inside were wounded in clashes, according to a Rudaw correspondent on the scene. Outside the parliament building that is inside the Green Zone, many protesters remained dug-in in tents outside the legislature on Sunday morning. Meanwhile, all roads to Baghdad’s Presidential Palace, which is also inside the Green Zone, were sealed off Sunday as Abadi arrived for a meeting with political leaders. Sources said that Abadi and President Fuad Masum – a Kurd – would meet at around midday with other political leaders, who began arriving in the late morning. Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri is expected to be in the meeting. Earlier Sunday, as security forces patrolled the tense capital on Sunday, Abadi called for the attackers to be brought to justice. “Those who have attacked the parliament, the lawmakers, the civilians and the public property should face justice,” Abadi said on his official Facebook page in an early morning post. He called on the interior minister, Mohammed Salem Al-Ghabban, to order the arrests. The impassioned protesters who stormed the parliament on Saturday were demanding reforms, following months of sporadic protests and calls for Abadi’s government to throw out corrupt politicians and announce a cabinet of technocrats. Abadi visited the parliament after the protesters left the building at the request of powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, whose followers were behind the attack. Pictures from Abadi’s Facebook page showed him surveying the assembly hall, where MPs chairs and desks were in disarray and papers were strewn all around. He is seen in the photos surrounded by security forces. The storming of parliament came shortly after lawmakers had postponed yet another session on voting in new ministers, and Sadr warned he could “destroy” the government and establish a new administration. Following the hours-long takeover of parliament, protesters reached the gates of the Iraqi cabinet of ministers and attempted to enter. Rudaw reporter Bahman Hassan said the protesters were banging on the gates and trying to break in. Demonstrators tore down concrete blast walls to breach the high security zone in the center of the city. One Internet commentator likened the scenes of people pulling down the concrete slabs to images of the pulling down of the statue of former dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003. Abadi’s government declared a state of emergency and deployed the military, including Special Forces stationed around national banks. The protests were predominantly peaceful but isolated incidents of violence occurred. Some lawmakers were beaten with flags and some demonstrators smashed car windows. At one entrance to the Green Zone, Iraqi security forces had fired tear gas at protesters and live rounds into the air. About two hours after the protesters took over the parliament, Iraq’s counter-terrorism forces, called in as reinforcements, said they were standing down. The Special Forces have been guarding banks and other key buildings across the capital. The United Nations office in Baghdad said it remained open, but gates closed for personnel safety on Saturday. Rudaw correspondent in Baghdad Mustafa Goran said that a special Kurdish force was tasked with guarding the Iraqi parliament. “No confrontation occurred between them and protestors,” he said. Most MPs fled the parliament building before protestors reached the compound. Some Kurdish MPs were trapped inside the building including Ashwaq Jaff, who told Rudaw that she was being isolated by security forces from the protesters.
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