Iraqi agitators to be arrested following storming of Iraqi Parliament


Iraq News.Net Monday 2nd May, 2016

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has reportedly authorised police to arrest demonstrators responsible for charging into the Parliament and attacking security officials and Members of Parliament on April 30.

According to reports, the heavily-guarded Green Zone was breached by protestors in support of popular Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, and forced Iraqi politicians to scatter.

Demonstrators reportedly took to dancing on Parliament tables, clapping and waving Iraqi flags, and others mobbed lawmakers’ vehicles as they attempted to flee from the ruckus.

It was added that, even as security officials secured the breach and reopened previously blocked roads, Baghdad remained under a state of emergency.

Further, protesters exited the Green Zone and proceeded to stage a sit-in at the Grand Festivities Square.

An Iraqi security official reportedly clarified that the only way to have prevented the barrage of agitators into the Green Zone would have been to open fire on them.

He further added that, as security personnel are not authorised to coerce them to leave the Green Zone, the only “available choice” was to “cooperate with the protesters, not stand against them.”

Reports state that the United Nations mission to Iraq declared itself as “gravely concerned” about escalating political tensions in Iraq, and further urged “calm, restraint and respect for Iraq's constitutional institutions at this crucial juncture” instead of resorting to violence against Iraqi officials.

As the chaos in Baghdad ensued, state-run al-Iraqiya TV reported the death of 11 people and claimed that 13 others were injured in a double suicide bombing in southern Iraq.

ISIS is said to have claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement on Twitter.

The statement further explained that the militant “blew up his car in the middle of a gathering of the Shiite Ministry of Interior Special Forces.”


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