By Mustafa Goran
“I am promising you that I will not make any agreements with other politicians. I work for the benefit of the nation,” Sadr said in a speech in the holy city of Najaf.
“If the nation lets me I can end the current government and form a new one without any corruption,” said the firebrand cleric, who has been pressuring Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi to announce a “government of technocrats.”
Abadi was expected to present five new ministers to parliament on Saturday, as he reshuffles his government to meet demands to root out corruption, under pressure from Sadr supporters and other Iraqis. But the session was postponed, sources told Rudaw.
“All the ministers should be changed,” Sadr said. “I am waiting for the nation to announce a revolution against corruption.”
He warned that, “The government has two choices: either reform or we will destroy it.”
Kurdish factions in parliament also have been meeting to discuss ministries that will go to the Kurds, under a power-sharing agreement in multi-religious and multi-ethnic Iraq.
“I am the only one who fights for the right of the people and I will pause my relationships with other politicians and will continue to support the nation,” Sadr said.
Iraqi security forces were deployed in Baghdad in preparation for a "million-man" march expected to take place later in the day, called by Sadr. Protesters were at the parliament gate by Saturday afternoon, as a Sadr faction MP joined the protests.
Many people have arrived in the Iraqi capital from different parts of Iraq to participate in the anti-government protest.
Despite tight security, a car bomb killed 20 and wounded 18 others in the city earlier Saturday.
Rudaw correspondent Bahman Hassan in Baghdad contributed to this report.
