Kurdish MPs trapped inside as angry protesters storm Iraqi parliament
BAGHDAD – Several Iraqi MPs were trapped inside the Iraqi parliament, as hundreds of angry protestors stormed the legislature, smashing glass and furniture.
Meanwhile, a lawmaker of the Sadr Movement – led by firebrand Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr -- joined protesters in “demanding our rights.”
“Today the nation has demands,” Awad Awadi told Rudaw. “We are demanding our rights,” he added, surrounded by hundreds of demonstrators who stormed the parliament on Saturday afternoon.
”We are with the nation,” he said. “We are here waiting for the Iraqi people. This represents the Iraqi people.”
Shortly before his supporters stormed into the legislature, Sadr warned that he could bring down the Iraqi government.
Sadr supporters, coming to the capital from other parts of Iraq, had been gathering for a “million-man” march in Baghdad. As protesters vented their anger inside, outside parliament other protesters set a vehicle on fire.
A group of Kurdish MPs remained trapped inside the building, a Rudaw correspondent at the scene said.
Earlier, the legislature postponed an afternoon session that was supposed to vote on new ministers. Sources said that some Kurdish MPs were rushing to the airport to return to the northern Kurdistan Region.
Meanwhile, Sadr warned he could “destroy” Iraq’s government.
“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 reshuffled 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.
Despite tight security, a car bomb killed 20 and wounded 18 others in the city earlier Saturday.
Meanwhile, a lawmaker of the Sadr Movement – led by firebrand Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr -- joined protesters in “demanding our rights.”
“Today the nation has demands,” Awad Awadi told Rudaw. “We are demanding our rights,” he added, surrounded by hundreds of demonstrators who stormed the parliament on Saturday afternoon.
”We are with the nation,” he said. “We are here waiting for the Iraqi people. This represents the Iraqi people.”
Shortly before his supporters stormed into the legislature, Sadr warned that he could bring down the Iraqi government.
Sadr supporters, coming to the capital from other parts of Iraq, had been gathering for a “million-man” march in Baghdad. As protesters vented their anger inside, outside parliament other protesters set a vehicle on fire.
A group of Kurdish MPs remained trapped inside the building, a Rudaw correspondent at the scene said.
Earlier, the legislature postponed an afternoon session that was supposed to vote on new ministers. Sources said that some Kurdish MPs were rushing to the airport to return to the northern Kurdistan Region.
Meanwhile, Sadr warned he could “destroy” Iraq’s government.
“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 reshuffled 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.
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.
Despite tight security, a car bomb killed 20 and wounded 18 others in the city earlier Saturday.