The 25-year-old demonstrator Ahmed Ali condemned the occupation of the parliament. “This is the parliament of the people and of all Iraqis, not the parliament of any group.” Supporters of the coordination framework stated that their aim was “to defend the state and its legitimacy”. After about two hours, the counter-demonstration broke up.
Sadr supporters stormed parliament on Saturday. Despite the use of water cannon and tear gas by the security forces, thousands of demonstrators overcame the concrete barriers to the heavily secured building. Sadr supporters had already briefly occupied the parliament on Wednesday.
Sadr supporters are protesting against the candidate for the coordination framework for prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The alliance also includes former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a longtime opponent of Sadr. Supporters of Sadr also demonstrated in other Iraqi cities on Monday.
The formation of a government in Iraq has been at an impasse for months, as has the election of a new president. As long as there is no new president, no new government can be formed.
