Iraq: supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr decided to occupy Parliament "until further notice"

Supporters of Moqtada al-Sadr have occupied the Iraqi Parliament since July 30.

AP - Adil al-Khazali

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

For the second time this week, the Iraqi Parliament in Baghdad was invaded on Saturday July 30 by thousands of supporters of the Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr who intend to stay there "until further notice", while Iraq is going through a period of political instability pending the appointment of a new president and a new prime minister.

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With our correspondent in Baghdad,

The strategy of the Sadrists is now quite clear:

before winning their case.

And after a day and a night there, there is little chance that the police will intervene to dislodge them.

These Sadrists, who reject the candidate for the post of head of government presented by their adversaries, want a Prime Minister who suits them or else new elections only ten months after the previous ones.

The opposing camp divided

But in the aftermath of the assault on Parliament, it will above all be necessary to look at the reactions of the opposing political camp, which is quite divided.

Some call for the organization of a counter-demonstration which could very quickly turn into a direct confrontation between the two camps.

The worst-case scenario for Iraq.

Other great leaders of this bloc, on the other hand, such as Nouri al-Maliki, the former Prime Minister, who has been very warlike in recent days, have dissociated themselves from his appeals and called for calm and above all for negotiations and

to try to find a solution.

It now remains to be seen whether the Shia cleric will grasp that outstretched hand as he refuses to negotiate with his opponents since the election results last October.

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• Iraq