The current escalation of violence causes deep concern. Voices of reason and wisdom are critical to preventing further violence. All participants should work to de-escalate tensions and in the interest of all Iraqis, the UNAMI press release emphasizes.
Several hundred followers of the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the Iraqi parliament building today, the second time this week, during protests over attempts to form a government with a coalition of Shiite parties.
The Iraqi Ministry of Health announced that 125 people, including 25 members of the security forces, were injured in the unrest.
“The Secretary-General stresses that getting things out of control will not be in the interest of Iraq or in the interest of any party,” the Arab League said on Facebook, which was mentioned in the press release by UNAMI.
In the middle of the week, several hundred of Al-Sadr’s followers also stormed the parliament building after the Coalition Framework named Muhammad Al-Sudani as a candidate for the mandate and expressed readiness to form an administration despite threats from the radical cleric.
Thousands of protesters used ropes to break down concrete barriers leading to the entrance to Baghdad’s Green Zone, which houses administration buildings and foreign embassies.
