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Iraq protests: PM Haider al-Abadi orders arrest of parliament protesters Iraq protests: PM Haider al-Abadi orders arrest of parliament protesters
(about 3 hours later)
Iraq's Prime Minister has ordered the arrest of Shia Muslim activists who stormed parliament in Baghdad on Saturday.Iraq's Prime Minister has ordered the arrest of Shia Muslim activists who stormed parliament in Baghdad on Saturday.
Haider al-Abadi said those who caused damage and attacked police should be brought to justice.Haider al-Abadi said those who caused damage and attacked police should be brought to justice.
Supporters of cleric Moqtada Sadr broke through barricades of the fortified Green Zone in protest against delays in approving a new cabinet. The demonstrators, supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr, were angered by delays in approving a new cabinet.
A state of emergency was declared in Baghdad after the protests. They are now camped out near parliament, demanding a change in government.
Protesters have accused the government of neglecting much-needed reforms, as it struggles with its campaign against the so-called Islamic State group and declining oil revenues.
IS, a Sunni Muslim group that controls parts of western and northern Iraq, claimed a twin suicide bombing on Sunday that killed at least 33 people and wounded more than 50 in the southern town of Samawa.
Fears of a Shia rift: Analysis by Ahmed Maher, BBC News, Baghdad
Many Iraqis believe the crisis has unveiled deep divisions between the Shia political parties that could lead to armed confrontation between some of the Shia brigades which were formed after the collapse of large units of the Iraqi army in the summer of 2014.
Leaders of these powerful Shia brigades have ordered reinforcements to Baghdad to help secure the capital, along with the Iraqi army and security forces.
In parliament, some leading Shia parties have locked horns over their share in the new cabinet line-up. Many prominent Shia politicians, like former Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, are highly critical of Shia cleric-turned-politician Moqtada Sadr. Mr Maliki said change could not be achieved through "intimidation or the occupation of the Green Zone". Many Shia Iraqis see Mr Sadr as a leader for their uprising.
The fear of a rift between Shia factions rift will stoke instability in Iraq, which is already at war with IS. And the crisis will alarm key allies like the US, which count on a stable, strong government to defeat IS.
Supporters of Mr Sadr want MPs to push through plans to replace ministers with political affiliations with non-partisan technocrats.Supporters of Mr Sadr want MPs to push through plans to replace ministers with political affiliations with non-partisan technocrats.
Powerful parties in parliament have refused to approve the change for several weeks.Powerful parties in parliament have refused to approve the change for several weeks.
The BBC's Ahmed Maher in Baghdad says this is one of the country's worst political crises since the US-led invasion and downfall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. 'We need new faces'
Systemic political patronage has aided corruption in Iraq, depleting the government's resources as it struggles to cope with declining oil revenue and the war against the jihadist group Islamic State (IS). Mr Abadi issued his arrest order after touring the Green Zone on Saturday. The zone, a highly fortified area 10 sq km (3.9 sq miles) in size, is home to key government buildings and foreign embassies.
Earlier this week, hundreds of thousands of people marched towards the Green Zone, the most secure part of Baghdad that houses embassies and government buildings, to protest against the political deadlock. It is ringed by blast walls, some of which were toppled by the protesters as they breached the zone for the first time in weeks of civil unrest.
Parliament again failed to reach a quorum on Saturday, after which the protest escalated and saw hundreds of people tear down blast walls and storm the parliament building. There are no indications that any actual arrests have taken place.
Inside the chamber, jubilant demonstrators took up the seats of the deputies and posed for photos. Nearby, United Nations and embassy staff were on lockdown inside their compounds, Reuters reported. Saturday's occupation of parliament came after MPs again failed to reach a quorum to vote on the cabinet changes.
After the protest, demonstrators set up camp outside the parliament, and many were still there on Sunday.After the protest, demonstrators set up camp outside the parliament, and many were still there on Sunday.
Despite Mr Abadi's order - made after he visited the damaged parliament building - there are no indications that any arrests have taken place. "We need new faces not the old ones," female protester Shatha Jumaa, a 58-year-old surgeon who described herself as a secularist, told the Associated Press news agency.
She said she wanted the current government dissolved and replaced by a small interim administration whose job would be to amend the constitution and to prepare for an early national election.
Corruption burden
Mr Abadi, who came to power in 2014, has promised to stamp out corruption and ease sectarian tensions.
Iraq's system of sharing government jobs has long been criticised for promoting unqualified candidates and encouraging corruption.Iraq's system of sharing government jobs has long been criticised for promoting unqualified candidates and encouraging corruption.
The government is carefully balanced between party and religious loyalties, but the country ranks 161st of 168 on corruption watchdog Transparency International's corruption perceptions index. The government is carefully balanced between party and religious loyalties but the country ranks 161st of 168 on corruption watchdog Transparency International's corruption perceptions index.
"Either corrupt (officials) and quotas remain or the entire government will be brought down and no one will be exempted," Mr Sadr said in a televised address shortly before parliament was stormed. Few details were immediately available about the double bombing in Samawa. Police say the blasts came within minutes of each other, the first outside a local government office, the second at a bus station.
Mr Abadi, who came to power in 2014, has promised to stamp out corruption and ease sectarian tensions, but he has failed to far to introduce a new technocratic cabinet. IS said it had targeted police in the town.
Correspondents say the political deadlock in Baghdad has diverted attention away from the government's ongoing fight against Islamic State militants. The country has been riven for years by deadly sectarian violence between the Shia majority and Sunnis.
On Sunday IS claimed a twin car-bomb attack that killed at least 14 people and wounded dozens in the southern city of Samawa.
Attacks by the IS group are relatively rare the mainly Shia south. IS holds positions mostly in Sunni areas of western and northern Iraq.
Who is Moqtada Sadr?Who is Moqtada Sadr?
The Shia cleric and his militia group, the Mehdi Army, gained prominence after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. galvanising anti-US sentiment.The Shia cleric and his militia group, the Mehdi Army, gained prominence after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. galvanising anti-US sentiment.
Mr Sadr's followers clashed repeatedly with US forces, whose withdrawal the cleric consistently demanded.Mr Sadr's followers clashed repeatedly with US forces, whose withdrawal the cleric consistently demanded.
An arrest warrant was issued for Mr Sadr in 2004 in connection with the murder of a rival cleric.An arrest warrant was issued for Mr Sadr in 2004 in connection with the murder of a rival cleric.
His militia was also blamed for the torture and killing of thousands of Sunnis in the sectarian carnage of 2006 and 2007. Mr Sadr fled to Iran during that period.His militia was also blamed for the torture and killing of thousands of Sunnis in the sectarian carnage of 2006 and 2007. Mr Sadr fled to Iran during that period.
In 2011, Mr Sadr returned from his self-imposed exile to Iraq, taking a more conciliatory tone and calling for Iraqi unity and peace.In 2011, Mr Sadr returned from his self-imposed exile to Iraq, taking a more conciliatory tone and calling for Iraqi unity and peace.