BAGHDAD (AP) — Thousands of followers of an influential Shiite cleric have stormed into Iraq’s parliament to protest government formation efforts led by his rivals from Iran-backed groups. The protesters — followers of Muqtada al-Sadr — used ropes and chains to topple cement walls around the heavily fortified Green Zone on Saturday, then flooded into the assembly building. It’s the second such breach this week but this time, they didn’t disperse peacefully. Iraqi security forces first used tear gas and sound bombs to try to repel the demonstrators but then backed off. The protesters are now saying they are staging an open-ended sit-in inside the parliament. Some among al-Sadr’s rivals, the Iran-backed political groups, have called for counter-demonstrations while others urged dialogue.
Iraqi protesters storm parliament in Baghdad, set up sit-in
